China’s Minority Report Style Plans Will Use AI to Predict Who Will Commit Crimes – Futurism

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Crime Prevention

Authorities in China are exploring predictive analytics, facial recognition, and other artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to help prevent crime in advance. Based on behavior patterns, authorities will notify local police about potential offenders.

Cloud Walk, a company headquartered in Guangzhou, has been training its facial recognition and big data rating systems to track movements based on risk levels. Those who are frequent visitors to weapons shops or transportation hubs are likely to be flagged in the system, and even places like hardware stores have been deemed high risk by authorities.

ACloud Walk spokesmantoldThe Financial Times,Of course, if someone buys a kitchen knife thats OK, but if the person also buys a sack and a hammer later, that person is becoming suspicious. Cloud Walks software is connected to the police database across more than 50 cities and provinces, and can flag suspicious characters in real time.

China is also using personal re-identification in crime prediction: identifying the same person in different places, even if theyre wearing different clothes. We can use re-ID to find people who look suspicious by walking back and forth in the same area, or who are wearing masks, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics professor of bodily recognition Leng Biao told The Financial Times. With re-ID, its also possible to reassemble someones trail across a large area.

China is, in many ways, the ideal place to use this kind of technology. The government has an extensive archive of data from citizen records and more than 176 million surveillance cameras. In other words, China has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to big data, and can train its AI systems very effectively, without any meaningful legal hurdles. Click to View Full Infographic

These arent the only ways that China is extending its AI capabilities. The government just revealed a massive, well-organized and funded plan to make China the global leader in AI by 2030. The nation deploys facial recognition in schools to counter cheating, on streets to fight jaywalking, and even in bathrooms to limit toilet paper waste. It should come as no surprise that the Chinese government would also employ these technologies to prevent crime and maybe even predict it.

If we use our smart systems and smart facilities well, we can know beforehand . . . who might be a terrorist, who might do something bad, Chinas vice-minister of science and technology Li Meng said to The Financial Times.

However you feel about Chinas Minority Report style plans, AI is making the world safer. Although AI is certainly a potential surveillance tool, it can also be used to protect privacy, keep healthcare records private, secure financial transactions, and prevent hacking. AI is responsible for smart security cameras, robot guards, and better military technologies. AI is also the reason self-driving cars are about to eliminate at least 90 percent of traffic fatalities. In other words, while you might object to certain applications, its hard to argue against AI technology on the wholeif youre concerned with the future of safety and privacy both online and off.

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China's Minority Report Style Plans Will Use AI to Predict Who Will Commit Crimes - Futurism

China criticizes British freedom of navigation mission plans – ABC News

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A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves:

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a weekly look at the latest developments in the South China Sea, the location of several territorial conflicts that have raised tensions in the region.

CHINA SLAMS UK PLAN TO SEND CARRIERS TO SOUTH CHINA SEA

China's foreign ministry criticized plans by Britain to send its new aircraft carriers on freedom of navigation missions in the South China Sea to challenge Beijing's expansive territorial claims in the strategic waterway.

Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters Friday in response to a question on statements by British officials that "some countries" from outside the region "insist on stirring up trouble while the situation is trending toward calm in the South China Sea."

"Regardless of what banner these countries or individuals fly under, or what excuses they may peddle, their record of the same kind of sanctimonious interference in the affairs of other regions, leaving behind chaos and humanitarian disaster, prompts countries in this region to maintain a high degree of vigilance," Lu said.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson confirmed following a high-level meeting in Sydney with his Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, that missions to the South China Sea would be near the top of deployment plans for the new carriers, the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

"One of the first things we will do with the two new colossal aircraft carriers that we have just built is send them on a freedom of navigation operation to this area to vindicate our belief in the rules-based international system and in the freedom of navigation through those waterways which are absolutely vital for world trade," Johnson said.

British Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon later said exact plans for the deployments had not yet been finalized.

"But, yes, you would expect to see these carriers in the India Pacific Ocean, this part of the world because it is in this part of the world we see increasing tension, increasing challenges," Fallon said.

China has strongly objected to repeated freedom of navigation missions carried by the U.S. Navy along with the presence of the navies of Japan, Australia and others in the waterway, through which an estimated $5 trillion in annual trade passes each year.

OFFICIAL CHINESE MAGAZINE LAUDS PRESIDENT XI FOR 'PERSONALLY' LEADING SOUTH CHINA SEA EXPANSION

An official Chinese magazine says President Xi Jinping personally directed the enlargement of China's presence in the South China Sea through the construction of man-made islands and other measures, crediting him with constructing a "maritime Great Wall."

Xi "personally led and directed a series of great struggles to expand strategic advantages and safeguard national interests," the Study Times, published by the ruling Communist Party's central training academy, said in an article published Friday.

The president's policies, including the building of islands and administrative changes elevating the status of China's claims in the disputed Paracel island group, have "altered the basic direction of the South China Sea strategic situation."

They have "created a solid strategic foundation for the winning final victory in the struggle for upholding rights in the South China Sea, the equivalent of building a maritime Great Wall," the magazine said, referencing the centuries-old defensive structure built to protect China from invasions by Mongols and tribes from the north.

Under Xi, China has constructed seven man-made islands in the highly contested Spratly group by piling sand and cement atop coral reefs, later adding runways, aircraft hangers and other infrastructure with defensive uses. Islands in the Paracel islands and elsewhere have also been expanded and similarly augmented.

China claims the construction is mainly to improve safety for shipping and fishermen, although the Study Times article again appeared to underscore its military purpose.

The article also cited Xi's involvement in policy regarding uninhabited Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea that China claims.

Giving "measures for measure," China unilaterally declared control over a large swath of airspace in the East China Sea a move declared illegitimate and ignored by the U.S. and others and patrols the area on a regular basis, the article said.

It said Xi's moves have "in one fell swoop, shattered Japan's many years of maintaining 'actual control'" over the islands, known in Chinese as Diaoyu and in Japanese as Senkaku.

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China criticizes British freedom of navigation mission plans - ABC News

Freedom plate three in 11th inning, hang on to take game, series, from Slammers in Joliet – User-generated content (press release) (registration)

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The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, took an eleventh-inning lead and fought off a Joliet rally in the bottom half to win the rubber game of the series, 7-6, on Sunday at Slammers Stadium.

With the score tied at 4-4, Andrew Godbold began the top of the eleventh on second base for the Freedom (42-24) as the International Tiebreaker Rule runner and advanced to third on an infield single by Austin Wobrock. Daniel Fraga delivered a RBI-single to give Florence the lead, and after a walk, Jose Brizuela grounded a double down the right field line to score two off reliever Brian McKenna (0-1).

But with Pete Perez pitching in the bottom of the inning and tiebreaker runner Melvin Rodriguez on second for the Slammers (30-34), Spencer Navin and Rock Shoulders each drew walks around a strikeout of Danny Zardon. After a popout, Luis Diaz drove a pitch to the wall in left field. Taylor Oldham fielded the carom off the wall, and after two runs scored, Austin Wobrock delivered a strong relay throw home, allowing Garrett Vail to make the tag on Shoulders, the would-be tying run, for the games final out.

Until the eleventh, the game had been tied since the sixth, when a 4-2 Freedom lead dissolved on a Diaz RBI-double and an unearned run on a misplayed groundball by Wobrock. Joliet had scored two runs off Jordan Kraus in the first inning, but Florence got a RBI-single from Daniel Fraga in the third inning, a go-ahead two-run double by Jordan Brower in the fourth and a Brizuela RBI-single in the fifth to add to the lead.

The resulting series win was the fifth straight for the Freedom. Fraga led the team with five hits, while Brizuela paced Florence with three runs batted in.

Keivan Berges (3-1) picked up the win in relief, pitching a scoreless tenth inning. Jamal Wilson held Joliet scoreless in the eighth and ninth, following a shutout seventh inning by Mike Anthony, who was helped out of a jam by a Brizuela diving catch at third base that resulted in Navin being doubled off of second base.

The Freedom next travel to OFallon, Missouri to open a three-game series against the River City Rascals on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at CarShield Field.

The Florence Freedom are members of the independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY.The Freedom can be found online at FlorenceFreedom.com, or by phone at 859-594-4487.

Florence Freedom

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How the Real-Life Freedom Riders Inspired a New Musical – Playbill.com

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Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical, playing Theatre Rows Acorn Theatre August 1-5 as part of the 2017 New York Musical Festival, bridges a significant sliver of American social historyseven months and six days in 1961, to be precise, when civil rights activists rode interstate buses into the stubbornly segregated South. They did this to challenge the non-enforcement of the Supreme Courts decision that segregated public buses were unconstitutional.

Somebody had to do it, and on May 4, 1961, 13 brave souls (seven black, six white) ventured forth from D.C. to Dixie via Greyhound and Trailways. They were followed by 423 others in at least 60 other Freedom Ride forays into the inhospitable South.

These turbulent times have been heavily documented, but Richard Allen is the first to see the makings of a musical. To that end, he wrote the book and, with Taran Gray, songs for Freedom Riders.

In the history textbooks that Allen and Gray grew up on, the freedom rides were little more than a fleeting blur between Rosa Parks memorable stance and Martin Luther King Jrs I Have a Dream speech. Allens real interest in it got piqued much later by an Oprah Winfred special, then I just couldnt get enough of it, so I watched a PBS special and an American Experience special--and then I started reading. Two summers ago, he began adapting this freedom-riders protest into a stage piece.

You can see in these specials how singing gave activists courage, Allen says. That, to me, made the material musical. Music was so key to the ordeal that it felt natural to tell the story that way. Within the black community, music is hugely important.

Eighteen songs were written for the show, and Grays research into the sounds of the 60s shows. Theres a lot of Motown and a lot of gospel, appropriately, he says. What we tried to do is to match the music with the story arch. Toward the end, the music gets more modernand, by modern, I mean 2017 musical-theatre modern.

I think we did something really interesting with the music, Gray continues. We broke a bit of a rule with a few of the musical-theatre songs that dont progress the storylinewhere the music suspends the moment, and theres a pause in the story.

Case-in-point is an emotional highpoint for the central character, John Lewis, who is now the U.S. Representative for Georgias 5th congressional district. In the show, as played by Anthony Chatmon II, he is a 21-year-old firebrand on the racial front lines.

That moment occurs, says Gray, after Lewis brutalizing first confrontation with violence as a nonviolent protester. He says to the other riders, Give me a second, and, at that moment, we have this suspension where we get to hear Johns heart. Its our I want song, and we really get to hear his passion for a world of true equality.

Dr. King, Robert Kennedy, and James Farmer are subsidiary characters in the musical, which focuses primarily on three civil rights icons: Lewis, Diane Nash (played by Brynn Williams), and John Seigenthaler (played by Ciaran McCarthy).

Director Whitney White arranged for the real Diane Nash to phone in her feedback to the cast. In our show, we deal with her rise, says Allen. The freedom rides put Diane on the map with the other civil rights leaders, who were all men at the time.

Seigenthalers two-year involvement in the fray (19601962), as RFKs administrative assistant in the thick of the freedom-rides fights, punctuated his career at The Nashville Tennesseanfrom police-beat reporter to editor-in-chief.

I got some pushback having Seigenthaler in the show, Allen admits. A lot of people believe that the Civil Rights Movement belongs only to blacks, and it doesnt. Sometimes, its jarring to see a white character playing an important part here.

But, for this movement, Seigenthaler did. Robert Kennedy sent him into the trenches to represent the Justice Department and protect these freedom riders.

Growing up with the Gores and Kennedys, he was liberal, so he really believed in this idea of freedom and equality. I thought he was a natural character for our show because he represents a lot of peoplepeople who believe the same liberal things he does but arent in the action of it. At some point, thats the big turn for him. He realizes hes got to make a choice. Now Im no longer the newspaperman Ive been all my life. Im now in the action of it. Im now an activist, fighting for these people.

All three main characters mature into their own moment of truth, says Allen. Thats been our struggleto really show where they come from and where they finish.

What we wanted to do, adds Gray, was bring humanity to these characters. They are real people with real struggles and conflicts. We wanted that to show. And, secondly, we wanted to show that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Thats so important because today we look at all the things going on and we go, Oh, my gosh! Its so overwhelming. We dont feel we can get involved or do anything. In the 60s, that wasnt the case. You went out, and you kinda did what you could.

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What does the international religious freedom ambassador do? – Deseret News

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SALT LAKE CITY The United States may soon have a new ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, after the White House announced Wednesday that Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback would be put forward for confirmation.

The news pleased the many religious freedom advocates calling for the position to be filled, but left others confused about the Trump administration's priorities.

"It will interest you to know that, at the moment, the United States has no ambassador to South Korea. Other marginally important nations in which the country has no official representative include Germany, France, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. But, as of Wednesday night, we have a nominee to be the ambassador to an unknown land called religious freedom," wrote Charles P. Pierce for Esquire.

Irreverent responses didn't surprise those who work at the intersection of foreign policy and religion. For years, people have questioned America's efforts to support conscience rights around the world, said Chris Seiple, president emeritus of the Institute for Global Engagement, an organization founded by Seiple's father, Bob Seiple, the first international religious freedom ambassador.

"Sometimes people receive our concern about human rights and religious freedom as cultural imperialism," he said. "Sometimes it's received as looking out for Christians only."

Sean Casey, who previously served as the director of the State Department's Office of Religion and Global Affairs, said it's fair to wonder about the value of this ambassadorship, since past leaders have struggled to have a measurable impact.

"Politics gets in the way of American diplomacy. We should be advocating for the right of any human being to practice their religion," he said.

However, improvements to the country's international religious freedom work can only be made if there's someone in place to direct them, said Katrina Lantos Swett, who previously served as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

"All government work seems like you're drinking water out of a fire hose. There's always more coming at you than you can handle," she said. "But having leadership for the (international religious freedom) office is going to make a big difference."

Shifting job description

The position of ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, a bill that Brownback, who was raised Methodist and converted to Catholicism in 2002, helped pass while in the Senate.

The legislation called for annual tracking of religion-related human rights violations and urged the State Department to wed foreign policy initiatives with faith-based outreach. The ambassador was to be a champion of conscience rights, helping government officials in the U.S. and abroad recognize the link between religious freedom and peace.

"The position is necessary for two reasons: first, to maintain America's leadership in assisting the millions of individuals and religious minorities suffering religious persecution around the world and, second, to enhance U.S. national security at home and abroad at a very low cost," said Tom Farr, president of the Religious Freedom Institute and former director of the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom.

Four people have held the post since 1998, and each has had to be responsive to a daunting political climate and changing global landscape.

"All of these people who take this position go through the tsunami of learning the bizarre culture" of the State Department, Casey said, noting that it takes more than a passion for religious freedom to get things done.

The ambassador must listen to the needs and concerns of world leaders and then connect them to America's foreign policy goals, Seiple said.

"If we can't relate to people in their own context and then bring that (understanding) back to the context of American values and interest, it's a total waste of time," he said.

The most recent religious freedom ambassador, Rabbi David Saperstein, who left the post in January, was widely praised for his political savvy and activism. As rates of religious persecution rose around the world, he pushed to get prisoners of conscience released, blasphemy laws repealed and the Islamic State's actions in Iraq and Syria classified as genocide.

"Studies tell us that three-quarters of the world's population live in countries with significant restrictions on religious freedom or social hostilities because the majority population is intolerant and often acts violently against minority religious populations. There's a lot of work to be done, and country by country we do make improvements," Rabbi Saperstein told the Deseret News in November.

Under the leadership of a religion-friendly secretary of state, John Kerry, Saperstein was able to expand his office and join with Casey to boost religious awareness within the State Department.

"In the 22 months that I've been honored to hold this position, the size of my office has nearly doubled and our program money has increased five-fold to $20 million," Saperstein said.

Although only six months have passed since Rabbi Saperstein led the department, the new religious freedom ambassador may struggle to pick up where he left off, said Casey, who is now the director of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University.

The Trump administration has discussed cuts at the State Department, which could dismantle religion-related projects. It's also pushed policies like a ban on travellers from six Muslim-majority countries, an approach that hurts America's international reputation, he added.

"I think the biggest challenge Brownback or whoever sits in that chair will face is the out-of-step religious freedom action this administration has taken," Casey said.

Religious freedom moving forward

Casey's comments point to the fact that the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom must overcome political roadblocks in order to make meaningful progress. In the past, the State Department has often failed to follow up its report on religious tolerance with new sanctions or initiatives.

"Generally, the effectiveness of this position has been marginal in that sense that what it's been reduced to is naming and shaming," Casey said. "There's not a lot of evidence that a foot stomp and annual report (of religious freedom violations) has any diplomatic impact at all."

Swett offered a more generous analysis, highlighting the importance of having the ambassador call attention to egregious human rights violations.

"Public naming, shaming and blaming tends to turn up the heat on the abusers," she said.

Even if public press conferences fall flat, the international religious freedom ambassador is in a position to convince the secretary of state and president to take religious violence seriously, Swett added.

"There's always a risk when it comes to human rights issues that they'll get lost in the shuffle," she said.

Swett and other religious freedom advocates said Brownback, who served in the House and Senate for 16 years before becoming governor, could be effective in the role because of his past government experience. He would be the first elected official to hold the ambassador-at-large position.

"Having the stature of a former senator may allow him to knock on doors that some appointees might not have been able to. That can be a plus," Seiple said.

While in the Senate, Brownback was an outspoken supporter of conscience rights. He was "an early advocate of U.S. action to stop genocide in Sudan's Darfur region, and visited Congo and Rwanda to decry humanitarian crises and call for better coordination in foreign aid programs," The Associated Press reported.

Brownback has to be confirmed by the Senate before he can begin his work, but he's already shared his excitement on Twitter and with the media.

"I'm doing this job because of my interest and passion in the field," Brownback told World Magazine.

Email: kdallas@deseretnews.com Twitter: @kelsey_dallas

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Charges dropped against beggars who claimed ‘freedom of expression’ – Stuff.co.nz

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SIMON HENDERY

Last updated15:52, July 31 2017

MARTY SHARPE/FAIRFAX NZ

Major Keelan, seen here begging in Emerson St, central Napier, says he is delighted police have dropped charges against him. (File photo)

Police have dropped charges against three Napier beggars who were preparing to go to court to fight charges of breaching city bylaws by soliciting for money.

The three menTurei Cooper, Major Keelan andMylesHemopo hadpleaded not guilty to charges of breaching a council bylaw that forbids them from soliciting for money without permission.

The triowere due to appear for a judge-alone trial in Napier District Court on August 15, but on MondayInspector Andrew Sloan said police would not be pursuing the case against the men.

MARTY SHARPE/FAIRFAX NZ

Myles Hemopo, outside Napier District Court, where he was facing charges that will now be withdrawn. (File photo)

"After consultation with the local city council, police have elected not to proceed with these prosecutions and the charges are to be withdrawn," Sloan said.

READ MORE: * Beggars go to court arguing that begging is a 'fundamental freedom of expression' *Napier beggar's life of struggle, hope and ascent out of a 'dark, dark place' *Napier to start using security officers as part of council clampdown on beggars *Police find and arrest wayward Napier beggar Frank Lovich

"Police will continue to respond to reports of anti-social behaviour in the city, including any which may accompany the act of 'begging'," he said.

In a case that was being watched with interest by other councils around the country, the men had been planning to argue that, by denying them the right to beg for money, the Napier City Council was breaching their fundamental freedom of expression under the Bill of Rights.

It was an argument thatleading human rights lawyerMichael Bott previously said had merit because no council could construct a bylaw that was inconsistent with Bill of Rights.

"By outlawing begging, the council has basically behaved unlawfully," Bott said.

Keelan said on Monday he was delighted with the decision to drop the charges, but remained concerned police had indicated beggars would remain potential targets for prosecution.

"I beat the Government!" he said. "I just hope the cops don't keep picking on me."

He said he had no plans to change his behaviour, and a "Homeless Donation Thank You" sign he displayed in the CBD did not amount to soliciting for money.

"Everybody's got the right to ask for a little bit of help in New Zealand. 'Donation' doesn't mean we're askingfor money. It could just be listening to us," he said.

"At the end of the day, I appreciate people coming up and talking to us that's a donation."

Napier City Council community strategies managerNatasha Carswell said in reviewing the charges, police had asked the council for its stance on the bylaw.

"We confirmed that we did not intend to enforce the bylaw to address begging for two reasons: the first is that we prefer a longer-term approach, and second we didn't think it would act as a strong deterrent."

The council had implemented a "street management programme that provides a presence in the CBD in an effort to reduce the anti-social behaviour associated with some who are also begging, working in with police".

Through the programme, the council was"engaging with people who beg to try to link them with the help they need", Carswell said.

-Stuff

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Charges dropped against beggars who claimed 'freedom of expression' - Stuff.co.nz

Lumsden: A town divided over freedom campers – Southland Times

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TIM NEWMAN

Last updated15:07, July 31 2017

Kavinda Herath / stuff

freedom campers in Lumsden

At onetime Lumsden was known as the "hub" of Northern Southland.

Threerailway lines converged on the town: north to south through the Kingston branch, to the west along the Mossburn branch, and linking to Gore in the east on the Waimea Plains railway.

While the town's last line shut down more than 30 years ago, duringthe past two years the railway station has been as busy as ever.

TIM NEWMAN/STUFF

Earlier this year freedom campers congregated outside the old train station at the Lumsden Information Centre.

Lumsden is making a name for itself as a hub again, but in 2017 it is tourists, not trains, being drawn to the town.

READ MORE: *Offbeat New Zealand: St Bathans, Central Otago's ghost town *An undercover freedom camper: My eight days on the road *Freedom campers turn campsite into a 'zoo'

During this time, Lumsden's population has grown by as much as one quarter, from 400 to more than500.

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF

Currently freedom campers are only allowed to stay in the car park directly adjacent to the railway station, although during summer there have been issues with the camp stretching beyond its set limits.

Home to a few cafes, a Four Square, and a defunct railway carriage, Lumsden doesn't immediately scream "tourist trap".

Migrating from their wintry Northern Hemisphere climes, flocks of young, educated, and perhaps slightly whiffy sojourners descend on the town's railway station.

While compared to spots like Queenstown, Te Anau, and the Catlins, Lumsden might seem like an odd tourist destination, for some reason it has become a haven for freedom campers.

KAVINDA HERATH/STUFF

Lumsden CDA chairman Rob Scott by the old railway station where freedom campers congregate in Summer.

Freedom campers: a dirty word for half of Lumsden, and a beacon of opportunity to the rest.

While there has been no end of debate over what to do about the town's newest institution, it was a development that no-one seemed to have anticipated.

In the Freedom Camping Act 2011, central government made provision for people to freedom camp in any local authority area, unless prohibited through a bylaw or any other enactment.

KAVINDA HERATH/STUFF

Lumsden Motel co-owner Brian Ross said residents have been waiting two years to have their say on the freedom camping bylaw.

The legislation was brought in before the 2011 Rugby World Cup in anticipation for the high tourist numbers that would come through then.

In 2015, the Southland District Council enacted its ownbylaw, designating thelevels of freedom camping allowed throughout the district.

The various Community Development Area subcommittees were able to choose what level of freedom camping, if any, they would allow in their territory.

KAVINDA HERATH/STUFF

Lumsden resident Chris Henderson.

Some opted for a blanket ban, while others like Lumsden chose to allow it in certain spots, with the latter designating asmall area chosen right in the middle of the town, adjacent to the railway station.

MORE THAN EXPECTED

Lumsden Community Development Area Subcommittee chairman Rob Scott said the initial expectations for the summer season were low.

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF

Lumsden residents Robyn Gleye, left, and Mick Ellis.

Looking out the window of his Route 6 Cafe to the railway station across the road, Scott spies about half a dozen vehicles congregated in the freedom camping zone.

"Initially the expectation was half a dozen to 10 or 12, sort ofwhat we're getting now in the winter was what we thought we'd be getting at the peak."

Scott said the town had never been known as a real destination for tourists, and was off the main tourist route between Queenstown and Te Anau by about 15km, being bypassed by State Highway 97.

KAVINDA HERATH/STUFF

Lumsden CDA chairman Rob Scott and freedom camping liason Wallace Drummond.

"The very first day the bylaw came into action there wereabout 6 or 7 [vehicles].

"The next there was 10 or 11, then 13 or 14, then it peaked at about 30 or 40 at for that first year.

"One dayI was counting them and thought'whoa, this is quite a lot more than I'd expected'."

Retired farmer Wallace Drummond was given the task of monitoring the campsite and liasing with the campers.

Drummond said this summer was the busiest yet, with the total number of campers per day pushing 100.

"One night we had 108, we've had some people claiming there's been 130 with tents but that's bullshit.

"108 was the most, but we were at overload."

WHY LUMSDEN?

According toDrummond, word travels fast among the freedom camping community.

"We're averaging about 4500 people coming to Lumsden, and they're all finding it on their phone on thatapp - about 99 per cent of them."

"That app" Drummond is referring to is Camper Mate, launched in 2011 by New Zealander Adam Hutchinson.

It uses GPS to locate "points of interest" for potential campers, including things like toilets, accommodation, and tourist sites throughout the country.

Accommodation sites are then broken down into categories such as free, low-budget, or premium, and can be voted and commented on by app users.

Lumsden's freedom camping area has been singled out for special praise, with several commenters even calling it the best freedom camping site in New Zealand.

"We're getting the good ratings because of the facilities we've got and that it just naturally works here", Scott said.

"Having the toiletsthere and the nice safe environment, they're all commenting on how safe it is.

"We can see them and they can see us, so it's all contained in the centre of town."

Indeed, the Lumsden site is something of an anomaly, compared to the other freedom camping sites in the Southland District specified by the 2015 bylaw.

While there are 19 sites dotted around the district, only six of them allow non self-contained freedom camping (camping where toilet and washing facilities are not self-contained, as they would be in a campervan).

Of those six, Lumsden is the only one in the middle oftown, with most of the rest located in parks or by beaches well away from any settlements.

With freedom camping banned in tourist destinations such as Te Anau and Queenstown, Drummond said Lumsden was being used as a base to explore the rest of the south.

"They're going out of their way to come here... they stayhere for a day or two, and then go on to walks like the Kepler and the Routeburn.

"If everything was set up like this here in Mossburn, this site wouldn't exist."

Whatever the reasons for them descending on Lumsden, freedom campers have divided the town.

There are few fence-sitters on the subject, with the tourists described alternately as either the potential saviours of destroyers of the town.

In the "pro" camp, it is argued that the freedom campers are bringing an economic windfall to Lumsden, presenting business opportunities that would never otherwise happen.

Whether going to the pool, the pub, or stopping for a pie, the new visitors are creating a burgeoning tourist economy.

Scott said everyone in town had a chance to cash in.

"We've got a lot of businesses for a small town,so having that boost is really important for them, it's keeping people employed.

"We haven'tgot a very wealthy population, so all of a sudden getting 100 to 150 people a day is bringing outside money into the mix and is actually expanding our economy."

Some of the town's neglected assets were also receiving a boost, with the Lumsden pool now able to re-open during summer.

"Now there's actually people in the pool, benefiting it to about the tune of around $3000.

"This has been an asset to the community which has been struggling for years, it couldn't stay open over Christmas due to thelack of people...last year was the first Christmas holidaysthe pool's been open in about three years."

As well as an economic shot in the arm, supporters also say the freedom campers bring a vibrancy that has been missing in Lumsden for some time.

Former schoolteacher Chris Henderson said the youth of the new visitors was something the town sorely needs.

"When you've been here for 40 years, you can see the peaks and troughs and effects of government decisions on Lumsden.

"We used to have two banks, a post office, and a bus company,all taken away from us apart from the post office.

"One of the things we miss in a place like this is this demographic,young people and their families.

"I love the fact that more young people are around.

"At the beginning we were caught a bit short, but Rob and his team have scrambled well, and as the market matures we'll become more organised."

However, that "vibrancy" is not appreciated by all residents in Lumsden.

Duringthe past two years, tales of unsavoury behaviour have followed the freedom campers around like a bad smell.

Reports of unhygienic campsite practices, public nudity, and other unsavoury incidents have made the rounds in Lumsden.

Retiree Mick Ellis andpartner Robyn Gleyeare strongly against freedom camping, after experiencing its effects up close through their job cleaning the town's public toilets.

"The thing that gripes people is that [the camp] is so unsightly", Ellis said.

"We came down from Auckland 14 years ago and we bloody love it here...the fear is that people are going to start avoiding the place."

Ellis said during the peak of the tourist season, the toilet blocks used by the campers were dirty, wet, andfilled with wet toilet paper and items such as discarded tampons.

"They're mainlyEuropeans, and they've got a totally different bloody standard of hygiene compared to us...Southlanders aren't like that.

"We've put up notices in the toilets asking them to respectthe facilities, they get ripped off or just ignored...the standard of respect for the property hasjust gone out the window."

The campers were also using the toilets as washing facilities, Ellis said.

"It's just not set up for that...we've had cases where 300m of toilet paper hasgone in as little as a couple of hours."

Some of this behaviour was experienced first-hand by Southland District Council mayor Gary Tong.

Tongsaid he was in Lumsden for a community meeting at about 5.30pm one evening, when he saw a completely naked man "having a wash" beside his vehicle.

A family would not want to see that, he said.

According to those against the bylaw, the economic benefits of freedom camping were also dubious at best.

Lumsden Motel owners Brian and Tracy Ross saidthe presence of the campers mightactually be driving potential customers awayfrom both their business and the town.

Positioned just on the other side of the road from the camping site, during summer the rows of tents are mere metres away from the motel and its guests.

"Our motel guests have made us very aware they don't like the negative impact on their Lumsden experience by the presence of the freedom campers...the worry is they may choose to stay somewhere else.

"No-one else in Lumsden lives closer to the tenting area, which apart from being outside the designated camping area, it's also only 20 metres or less away from our house."

While there are many criticisms regarding the visual effects of the site and the lack of enforcement of the bylaw, for people like Ross and Elliswhat is most upsetting is the perceived lack of public consultation.

While most starkly illustrated in Lumsden, issues with the freedom camping phenomenon are present all over Southland.

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Lumsden: A town divided over freedom campers - Southland Times

I Feel Love review a moving celebration of sexual freedom and LGBT rights – The Guardian

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Smooth operator Will Young at the I Feel Love concert in Hull. Photograph: James Stack/BBC

Headlined by Will Young, Marc Almond and Alison Moyet, this concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of sexual freedom simultaneously broadcast on Radio 2 - doesnt lack party atmosphere. There are ticker-tape explosions and massed singalongs of the Village Peoples YMCA and Donna Summers I Feel Love, led by the Gay Abandon choir. The celebratory piece de resistance is surely the guy in the crowd singing along with a ventriloquists dummy, which has been glammed up in a silver wig. Yet for all the outbreaks of joy, the most effective moments are more downbeat. Presenter Ana Matronic from the Scissor Sisters reminds us that in the 1967 so-called Summer of Love, a section of society could be dragged before a magistrate for holding hands in the street. Actor Allan Corduner reads from Oscar Wildes De Profundis, written while the literary giant served two years hard labour for indecency. He dreamed of a quiet life by the seaside but was dead within three years.

The format of spoken word alternating with stars performing one song per appearance probably works better on the radio. Despite a slightly disjointed feel, however, the performances are often very moving. Marc Almond draws deep for What Makes a Man a Man and Lavender, an impassioned tale of hiding his sexuality as a teen and finding escape through David Bowie. Opera singer Noah Stewarts Youll Never Walk Alone and Nessun Dorma are obvious choices, but he brings down the house. Will Youngs breezy, jazzy renditions of Sades Smooth Operator and Terence Trent DArbys Wishing Well feel lightweight, but Moyet is surely singing better now than in her 80s commercial heyday.

Corduner describes how the great John Gielgud returned to the stage after his 1953 court appearance for cottaging and was cheered to the rafters, as the public and the arts led pressure for legal change. And who knew that Tom Robinsons hit, 2-4-6-8 Motorway, was inspired by an old gay lib chant (2-4-6-8, gay is twice as good as straight)? The BBC once banned his song Glad to Be Gay; now they employ him as DJ. To mark how far weve come he sings the 1978 song queer insults, police brutality and all every bit as furiously as he did then. Its a spine-tingling reminder that, for the 74 countries where LGBT relationships remain illegal, there is a very long way to go.

On BBC iPlayer until 27 August.

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I Feel Love review a moving celebration of sexual freedom and LGBT rights - The Guardian

Fintech leaders feel unavailability of ecosystem could delay digital push – Moneycontrol.com

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Nikita Vashisht

Moneycontrol News

Unavailability of an appropriate ecosystem and lack of trust among digital means could prove to be the biggest hindrances Indias ambition to turn fully digital, according to experts.

A lot of digital isnt digital you still have to carry papers when it comes to verification, said Raj Kumar Jha, national creative director, Ogilvy & Mather, an advertising agency.

He said that the backend wasnt ready in India yet to go completely digital. Jha was speaking at the CII Fintech 2017 conclave here last week.

Adhil Shetty, chief executive officer (CEO) of BankBazaar.com, an online platform to compare various financial services, voiced similar concerns, saying that customers want to go digital and paperless but the means remain a question.

People want everything on their mobile phone. They realise that as long as it is trustworthy, dependable and secure, they are willing to interact with the platform People want everything in seconds, Shetty.

I believe the ecosystem exists customers are demanding it. The question is when will the mass market move, he said.

Bharat Anand, chief of technology, NATGRID, said that it was important to create trust among the customers to make them go completely digital.

People want to be sure who they are providing information to, said Anand, adding that digitisation can be promoted only with trust itself. It has to go hand in hand it has to be evolved.

The idea is to reach end customer and remove intermediaries, he said. We need to bring technology as last mile connectivity to build that trust.

Its a paradox. As a customer, I want highest security for my money but I want it really easy to be used, said Sriram Jagannathan, vice president, Amazon Payments, an online payment process of making payments routed through ones account on Amazon.

Jha said that India needs to develop system that can bring a behavioral change among people, making them comfortable with digital platforms.

What this country needs to think is that fintech is the real enabler for the next generation, country and economy, said Prem Chand, executive vice chairman, MitKat Advisory, management consultancy firm.

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Fintech leaders feel unavailability of ecosystem could delay digital push - Moneycontrol.com

Start-up ecosystem akin to caste order, says Vaitheeswaran – The Hindu

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Entrepreneurs are addicted to other peoples money, or OPM, sounds like a succinct description of the state of the e-commerce industry in India. The pun on opium is clearly intended. It comes from K. Vaitheeswaran, the man who pioneered retail e-commerce in India with Fabmart in the late 1990s. He recently spoke to The Hindu to promote his book, Failing to Succeed, that takes us through his successes and later travails in building the predecessor to todays e-commerce giants in India.

The book has an equal mix of stomach-clutching thrills and disappointments that an entrepreneur faces, cloaked with gentle humour. In it, the author has been brutally honest about himself, his ventures and the ecosystem. It contrasts starkly with todays corporate world whose PR machinery helps gloss over failure and highlight the rosy parts. A great read for those aspiring to start up, and a must read for entrepreneurs who feel things are not going according to plan. Excerpts from the interview:

For many entrepreneurs, fund raising is like a drug. They get addicted to it. They get money, and then want to raise more money. How do you do that? By spending what you have very quickly. So, you are raising the bar on just raising more and more money.

The other bane of the industry is lack of patient capital, according to him.

Indian entrepreneurs need capital but also patience. Foreign capital is impatient. Most investment funds come seeking returns in a 4-7 year time frame from the time the fund commences. So, if they invest in your firm in their third year, an exit is staring at you in the face.

As investors are in a hurry to see returns, they tend to look for scale quickly which means availability of more funds for expansion. The entrepreneur is glad to see so much money. But once invested, there is a hustle for returns as well. Quick returns, he said, may not be practical in all cases.

Fabmart, later rebranded as Fabmall and then Indiaplaza, folded up in 2013, after a 14-year roller coaster ride. Asked what disappointed him the most, he said, I dont have a problem with the business closing down. Thats the nature of the beast. In a start-up, you may not get the financial outcome you want.

But there is bitterness about the way the company failed, he said. Others, who were also equally accountable, in the company should have owned up to the responsibility. There were a series of incidents that led to this ending. Having to see the collapse of a business I had built for 14 years, customer by customer, in this manner is what leaves me pained and bitter.

So what did happen? What happened to me is surreal cant believe it happened. People who had invested in the company and who were in the board of directors should have shouldered equal responsibility when the company was going down, he said.

He insisted that we werent out-competed, but were undeniably out-funded.

The Indian start-up ecosystem is like a caste system its hard to break in. Mr. Vaitheeswaran is an engineering graduate from the Government College of Engineering in Tirunelveli and did not go to an IIT or an IIM. Investors indulge in pedigree investing, thats not a great idea. You cant assume that all the smartness in India is confined to two or three institutions.

Get out of pedigree investing, he exhorted investors. To do that, investors must spend time and effort and potentially pick winners at the start of the race. Obviously, those who come out of premier institutions are smart. But there are smart people outside those walls too.

What should e-commerce start-ups focus on? In the book, Mr. Vaitheeswaran says, that Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is an overrated metric and that it does not mean anything. In his own business, he had focussed on making each transaction with a buyer profitable. He preferred to focus on metrics such as customer acquisition and customer retention costs. Deep discounting models work only when the concept of LMS works.

In the interview, he said, The Last Man Standing, or LMS model, is outstanding, but will work only if there is no other competitor left in the market. But in reality, there is always someone left standing in the market. Indian unicorns have a hard problem to win foreign competitors have more money, bigger brands and they execute better. Its a mugs game.

For someone who pioneered the concept of Cash on Delivery in India, he has had to withdraw the facility both times he tried introducing the concept. Cash on delivery is a strain on the business. It also shows a lack of trust from the customer. In the book, he argues that paying online is far more convenient and that CoD looks smart only as long as there is unlimited funding.

More money going into unicorns that want to outfund others, could lead to funding drying for truly deserving ventures, he said. They may not get funding because a large part of the ecosystem will pay for the follies and fallacies of a few. Thats when the bad news will hit us. Worse, we may not even hear about them since they are unknown people they may just collapse and fall by the wayside.

It will cause permanent long-term damage to Indias start up story. I dont want that to happen.

What questions would he ask of a unicorn, as an investor? You have already raised several billion dollars. At 10% of this fund raise, I want to see evidence of sustainability. Show me a path where you will definitely make money.

If someone shows me a 17-year path to profitability, I wouldnt fund it. No one knows what will happen three years from now!

Is he itching to start-up all over again? Writing a book is no different from a start up you need time, discipline and effort. Sure it does not require a co-founder or the money. Yes, I have done another start up this book is my biggest start up!

Does he see warning signals in the ecosystem now? One thing that all start ups will realise is rarely do things go according to plan. In such a scenario, the investors, entrepreneurs, board of directors, founders, management they all must read from the same page. Whatever the page says, they must all be fine with that.

When things go wrong, I find that they are all reading from different books, forget the same page! They may not agree, they may debate and argue but should finally agree on one plan of action.

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Start-up ecosystem akin to caste order, says Vaitheeswaran - The Hindu

SRU developing aquaponics ecosystem with Ugandan university – Allied News

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SLIPPERY ROCK - Ugandan professor Joseph Ssekandi traveled to America for the first time in June to see what appears, on the surface at least, to be little more than a couple of shallow swimming pools at Slippery Rock University.

However, its what will eventually grow in those pools will benefit students, farmers, the Ugandan economy and a budding partnership between SRU and Uganda Martyrs University.

Ssekandis visit is yet another step in a burgeoning aquaponics project at SRU that has been years in the making. Aquaponics is an integrated system that combines raising fish, or aquaculture, and the soilless growing of plants, or hydroponics.

Through SRUs Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator, a University-owned, student-run business consultation firm, a team comprised of SRU students, faculty and members of the local community started building an aquaponics prototype last summer that will help others adopt the sustainable plant-growing system, beginning with the Ugandan group.

Theres a lot of things that we can learn together, said Ssekandi, professor of environmental and climate change adaptation at UMU. Ssekandi spent his time in Slippery Rock learning how SRU built its aquaponics prototype, which is housed at the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research.

He also met with SRU faculty, students and administrators, including John Golden, assistant professor of business and director of the SEA.

Together they are planning ways to not only build an aquaponics system that Ssekandis students can learn from, but also develop ways that SRU students can collaborate, share best practices, simplify the technology and ultimately deliver methods so that Ugandans can have produce available to eat and sell during long droughts.

If were able to demonstrate that this works, well be able to transfer this technology to other parts of the world, not just Africa, Golden said. Were hoping this is the initial prototype for a long relationship for the universities to explore other types of cultural, scientific and environmental exchanges.

The aquaponics process is achieved through a symbiotic relationship between fish and plants in separate, adjacent tanks. Fish waste is pumped from one tank to provide an organic food source for plants that sit on containment trays above a second tank.

The plants naturally filter the water back to the fish tank for the fish to prosper. Aquaponics can increase the yield of vegetation up to seven times normal soil production because it does not follow the normal growing season and requires 90-93 percent less water for growth.

Sizes of the tanks can vary by need, but the prototype at SRU is 16 feet by 4 feet and 3 feet deep for the plant tank and 8 feet by 5 feet and 2 feet deep for the fish tank. Water is pumped through an air lift system using a 200-watt solar panel at three amps per hour.

Its a living laboratory for every discipline, said aquaponics project director Daniel Burtner, a senior double major in marketing and sustainable management from Butler. Students learn marketing, science, business management, teaching and theyll being able to see the fruits of their labor.

If any SRU students want to get involved in a project that can actually make a difference in the world, they can do it here, said Golden, who added that the project is open to all SRU students and community volunteers, not just the 17 interns at the SEA.

Its an amazing thing to see the students involved in the cultural exchange, to understand how other cultures think. Its been a learning experience in a lot of different areas. The aquaponics is just sort of a vehicle.

Because of the sub-70-degree temperatures during Ssekandis visit, the tanks did not have fish. Tilapia, a fish that reproduces quickly, will be added to the fish tanks and vegetables such as tomatoes, basil and lettuce will grow on the second tank.

Golden anticipates the system to be fully functional by the start of the fall 2017 semester. A greenhouse will be built to protect the tanks and extend the season.

Nearly $15,000 has already been raised for the project through private donations, which include faith-based organizations and individuals like Slippery Rock resident Ken Bennett, who provided the seed money and founded the project as a SEA client.

Bennett is active in the Rotary Club, which funded a project in Lukaya, Uganda, to support the Mustard Seed Academy, a school for orphaned and abandoned children.

After making a visit to see the facilities in Uganda, he was eager to do more. Bennett wanted to create an enterprise that could be sustained by the Ugandan people, not American missionaries.

We knew so many well-intentioned Westerners who would go over for a week, build something and then walk away and say, Here you go; we built you something, without buy in or local management, Golden said.

Bennett eventually discovered aquaponics, a technique that is not new but difficult to implement in Uganda because the conventional farmers dont have the funding for start-up costs or the scientific knowledge to maintain it, such as balancing the right PH levels in the water or bacteria levels to change the ammonia into nitrates. The road block that developed was that even though we know aquaponics and can build a system in Uganda, we cant stay there and teach, Bennett said.

During a return trip to Uganda three years ago, Bennett showed up late one afternoon at UMU and was introduced to Ssekandi. In turn, Bennett introduced Ssekandi to the possibilities of implementing aquaponics in Uganda through a partnership with SRU.

Now we have a teacher, Bennett said. Hes very learned and interested in helping his country and expanding this idea.

Under Ssekandis direction, students at UMU will build their own aquaponics system this fall and interact with SRU students to determine best practices. Additionally, Golden plans to take credit hours out of his economics of sustainable development class in the spring 2018 semester for projects with Ssekandis classes under a curriculum program called COIL which stands for Collaborative Online International Learning.

Its been a lot of work, said Ssekandi, cracking a smile. Of course, I came to work; I didnt come for holiday. But if the partnership between the two institutions result in providing a new and sustainable food source for parts of the African nation, Ssekandis trip may earn him a holiday after all.

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SRU developing aquaponics ecosystem with Ugandan university - Allied News

‘Need to create an ideal IT ecosystem at MIHAN’ – The Hitavada

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Source: The HitavadaDate: 31 Jul 2017 09:28:56

Business Bureau,

THE region of Vidarbha and especially Nagpur has achieved several milestones by persuading several major domestic IT companies to set up their units at the IT Park in MIHAN. Most of the IT companies have started operations or are either in the process of construction and establishing infrastructure for their units. With this, the IT Park at MIHAN is almost full with occupants like TCS, Tech Mahindra, HCL, Infosys etc. This has set the ball rolling to embark on setting up the Phase-II of the IT Park.

The objective of the IT Park in Nagpur is to create an ideal IT ecosystem where big IT companies as well as small ancillary units will synchronise their capabilities and coexist, said Arvind Kumar, Centre Head at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) while talking at the session on IT and ITES at the Inter Divisional Committee on Industrialisation of Vidarbha and Marathwada recently organised by Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA).

Present on the occasion were Anoop Kumar, Nagpur Divisional Commissioner, Sunil Porwal, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries), Piyush Singh, Divisional Commissioner, Amravati, senior officers, representatives of trade and industry and other stakeholders.

Giving recommendations on how to overcome hurdles on creating an ideal IT ecosystem to accelerate growth of the region, Kumar said, Government needs to attract the biggest IT companies of the world like Microsoft, Dell, Oracle, Google etc., to the IT Park at MIHAN. Cities like Bangaluru, Hyderabad and Pune have developed and grown to dizzy heights to become IT hubs in the country due to the ecosystem which was created by these large companies.

Large foreign IT companies outsource a huge chunk of their work from smaller domestic players thereby establishing a thriving ecosystem where there is supply and demand, he said. In order to put Nagpur on the IT map of the world a proper IT ecosystem needs to be developed in a similar manner at MIHAN, he added.

In order to attract top IT companies of the world there is a need to develop better air connectivity from Nagpur to other parts of the country and the world. Also, efforts have to made to connect MIHAN with the city through the Metro Rail operations, he said.

The IT industry is plagued with high employee retention levels. Employees after working for more than four to five years tend to leave and join other companies. An employee should get chance to get job in Nagpur itself, otherwise he would move out for greener pastures in other cities.

An ideal ecosystem would also attract smaller IT players which would perform outsourced work. In this manner a market would be developed which would create more employment opportunities for local youth, he said.

Another representative said that for any minor work regarding IT, the matter is sent to Mumbai for approval. Government should appoint a nodal officer who can take administrative decisions to resolve issues related to IT in Nagpur.

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'Need to create an ideal IT ecosystem at MIHAN' - The Hitavada

‘Cyborg’ challenges WWE star to SummerSlam bout after title win – New York Post

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Shortly after winning her first UFC title by defeating Tonya Evinger, Cris Cyborg Justino called out her next desired opponent except she wasnt from the UFC.

The new UFC featherweight champion continued her running Twitter feud with WWE superstar Becky Lynch, again asking for a match at Barclays Center on Aug. 20.

I won my #ufc214 fight @TripleH now I want @BeckyLynchWWE in the @wwe at #summerslam, Justino tweeted after beating Evinger by third-round TKO on Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Justino has been calling out Lynch, a former Smackdown womens champion and one of the catalysts for the companys womens revolution since early July. She tweeted a fantasy SummerSlam billboard featuring her and Lynch while take a jab at Ronda Rousey. Lynch has yet to be booked in a match for SummerSlam.

#SummerSlam2017 #CyborgNation Vs The World! If @WWE cant get Rowdy in the ring Im not afraid of @BeckyLynchWWE, Justino tweeted.

Lynch was all for the bout, tweeting:

Ive never backed down from a challenge. Come at me bro.

While the fantasy would be a headline grabber at SummerSlam, Justino still has business to attend to in the UFC.

Justino said she wants her next MMA fight to be against Holly Holm.

I dont know what comes next, but I would love to face Holy Holm, Justino said in a statement. I think she was a great champion and fans would like to see us fight.

The sight Justino would like to see next, however, is Lynch standing across from her in Brooklyn.

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'Cyborg' challenges WWE star to SummerSlam bout after title win - New York Post

UFC 214 Results: Jon Jones, Cyborg Justino TKOs Highlight Card – Bleacher Report

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Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

The bitter rivalry between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier came to an epic conclusion to close out the show at UFC 214 on Saturday in Anaheim, California. With one hellacious left high kick, Bones reclaimed the division he once ruled over so forcefully.

The new champion dethroned Cormier with a third-round TKO, but it wasn't the easiest of his long list of victories.

Cormier had his moments. The former Olympian looked much more prepared for the second fight against Jones. In the first two rounds, he gave Jones problems with his aggressive pressure on the inside, even knocking out Jones' mouthpiece with uppercuts in the early going, as UFC Canada showed:

A much more confident, relaxed DC had it looking like this fight was headed toward another five-round brawl. Josh Gross ofThe Guardianhad the score in favor of Cormier in both of the first two rounds:

However, Jones showed he can change the complexion of a fight in just one strike. Though one-strike power is rare from him, the left high kick he landed as Cormier ducked his head was showcased in the UFC's congratulatory tweet:

The kick stymied Cormier and sent him across the cage searching for consciousness. Jones, who was ready to take his division back, met him instead.

After the fight, Jones was complimentary of his longtime rival, potentially closing the door on this series for good while calling out another potential opponent in Brock Lesnar:

Overall, it was an excellent ending to a great night of fights. The stacked card lived up to the potential in many ways, including the coronation of Cris Cyborg and a great welterweight collision between Robbie Lawler and Donald Cerrone.

Here's a look at all the results, along with a closer look at each of the main card bouts.

UFC 214 Quick Results

Main Card on pay-per-view

Prelims on FXX

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass

Tyron Woodley vs. Demian Maia

If Tyron Woodley was hoping this would be the title defense that would turn him into a fan favorite, he has to be disappointed. The champion successfully defended his title in an oddly lopsided decision, though.

Maia's attempt to take the title looked a lot like his bizarre performance against Anderson Silva seven years ago. The dangerous jiu-jitsu practitioner looked for takedown after takedown, but forcing the matter was Plan A, B, C and D for the 39-year-old.

The problem was the Brazilian didn't land a single one.

Essentially, the fight looked a lot like this highlight posted by the UFCfor five rounds:

Woodley did land an overhand right that floored the challenger in the second round, but that excitement was short-lived.

Overall, Woodley was put in a bad position. Maia is such a dangerous opponent on the ground that Woodley had to go to great lengths not to let the fight go there, yet Maia refused to engage in the striking department.

It wasn't his most impressive performance, but Woodley did what he had to do in winning the bout on points. After the fight, the champion was ready to move on to a date with Georges St-Pierre later this year, per Mike Dyce of Sports Illustrated:

Cris Cyborg vs. Tonya Evinger

The Cyborg era has officially started in the UFC. The longtime Strikeforce and Invicta star became a UFC champion with her third-round TKO of Tonya Evinger.

The fight played out just about like any other Cyborg fight, with the exception of the timetable. Where most mortals get put away by Cyborg's overwhelming speed and power in the first round, Evinger was able to move, clinch and tough her way through two frames before meeting her demise.

The UFC provided a good example of the average Cyborg offensive in this fight:

Evinger gets credit for extending this matchup with her toughness and movement. It does nothing to damage the stock of Cyborg, though, as she's been the most dominant force in women's MMA for years.

This result just opens the door to many more intriguing matchups for the new champion in the relatively new division. Damon Martin of UFC.com said what had to be on a lot of fans' minds:

Whether it's Holly Holm, Germaine de Randamie or Ronda Rousey, Cyborg established that she's the kind of fighter fans will want to tune in to see because there's going to be action.

This was just the beginning of what's sure to be an interesting championship campaign.

Donald Cerrone vs. Robbie Lawler

This fight promised violence, and it delivered. Lawler and Cerrone might not be as sharp as they once were, but they're still two of their division's best action fighters, and they didn't disappoint here.

Lawler appeared ready to put the fight away early. He swarmed Cerrone in Round 1 and looked like he was going to be able to hand Cowboy a quick loss. The UFC provided the highlight:

Taking damage early and coming back to win isn't a foreign concept to Cerrone. He's been there before, and he proved he can still go there when necessary. By the end of the first frame he was firing back at Lawler:

The second round was clearly a five-minute stretch in Cerrone's favor. The Cowboy put together impressive kickboxing combinations, while Lawler's output was significantly slowed.

That set up a third round before which each fighter clearly had one frame. Both worked hard to take the fight, but Lawler landed the cleaner, more powerful shots, while Cerrone went for volume. The effective striking was why Patrick Wyman ofThe Washington Post scored the round for Ruthless:

This was a fun bout that proved both fighters are still capable of putting on entertaining shows for the fans. Lawler might not be ready to jump back in the title picture, but he can still put together awesome scraps.

Jimi Manuwa vs. Volkan Oezdemir

Jimi Manuwa was put on this card as insurance if anything were to happen with Jones or Cormier. That's as close as anyone can be to a title shot without actually having one.

It's safe to say UFC 214 significantly hurt his stock. Volkan Oezdemir quickly put an end to any thoughts of Manuwa's being the next contender in the light heavyweight division. As ESPN Stats & Info noted, it's becoming a bit of a trend:

The fight only lasted 42 seconds, so there isn't much to analyze other than the fact that the beating started with Oezdemir backed up by Manuwa against the fence. The fact that the Swiss fighter can turn that position into a knockout win speaks volumes about the 27-year-old's potential.

No Time came into this bout ranked fifth in the division. He's only three fights into his UFC career, but a win like this could put him on the fast track to the title. He even called out the winner of the Jones-Cormier main event, per MMA Fighting:

That's probably wishful thinking at this point. He needs at least one more fight to both build more name recognition and gain some fight experience before getting the opportunity to win a belt.

But he should be the favorite for the first time in his UFC career next time he puts the gloves on.

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UFC 214 Results: Jon Jones, Cyborg Justino TKOs Highlight Card - Bleacher Report

Tito Ortiz: ‘Cyborg’ should’ve been face of women’s MMA long before … – MMAjunkie.com

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February 23, 2013 was a historic night for the UFC at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

It was UFC 157, and in the main event, Ronda Rousey submitted Liz Carmouche with her signature armbar to defend the bantamweight title in the very first UFC womens fight that set off a revolution in MMA.

At that time, Cristiane Justino already was known as a one of the most dangerous fighters in the world male or female. But she wouldnt get her moment in the UFC spotlight until May of 2016. Fast forward to Saturday night at UFC 214, and in the same building where Rousey made history, Cyborg finally became a UFC champion with a TKO of Tonya Evinger to win the womens featherweight title.

It was just the second UFC womens 145-pound bout to take place, though with inaugural champion Germaine de Randamie opting to have her belt stripped instead of defending it against Justino, it felt like a new beginning for the division.

And for Tito Ortiz, friend and training partner of Justino, it felt like history was made similar to Rouseys four-and-a-half years ago.

You know, I really do, Ortiz told Submission Radio. Its just that I think Cris is more of a true person. You know, she really doesnt let her head get to her. Shes very calm, collective and very mellow-mannered person. Shes an awesome woman. She doesnt get cocky, she doesnt treat people bad. Cris is a true champion. Shes a true peoples champion. She goes out of her way to help people, and thats what champions are made of, and thats what Cris is made of.

Justino (18-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC)beefed in the past during Rouseys reign as UFC womens bantamweight champion, though Cyborg made it clear during fight week she isnt holding any grudges. Even though Justino said she has no desire to fill Rouseys shoes as the new face of womens MMA, Ortiz believes its inevitable.

Because its also long overdue.

Yeah, thats whats going to happen to Cris Cyborg 100 percent. She is going to be the face of womens MMA. She should have been a long time ago, shes gonna be now, Ortiz said. You know, Ronda was a flash in the pan. And nothing against her, she was a great champ at the time, but when youre getting hand-fed opponents, it is what it is. But Cris is not a person to submit people and give them an opportunity to do it again, shes a person to knock people out as you heard tonight at the press conference, people comparing her to a Mike Tyson.

But now shes a confident person, is keeping her hips low and, yeah, she swings like Mike Tyson. All of her sparring partners, man, theyre all men. We dont have any women sparring partner with her, and when they do its just a confidence booster for her, and Ive got to thank all of them for coming in and working with her. Cris is finally the UFC world champ.

She certainly waited long enough to be called that. What she does with that title is up to her.

For more onUFC 214, check out theUFC Eventssection of the site.

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Tito Ortiz: 'Cyborg' should've been face of women's MMA long before ... - MMAjunkie.com

CYBORG vs EVINGER – UFC

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CYBORG vs EVINGER

A new UFC womens featherweight champion was crowned on the UFC 214 card at Honda Center in Anaheim Saturday, as Cris Cyborg stopped Tonya Evinger in the third round.

The title makes it a triple crown for the 32-year-old Curitiba native, who was formerly the Strikeforce and Invicta FC featherweight champion.

A lot of things happened in my career, but before I was just crazy inside the cage, said Cyborg, now 18-1 with 1 NC. Now Im learning fighting. I have calmed down, I see a nice shot, I throw the shot. And Im really happy to be a world champ. This is the perfect time because I think Im at the top of my career.

Cyborg dropped Evinger (19-6, 1 NC) with the first left hook she threw, but Triple Threat rose immediately. In a subsequent clinch, Evinger pulled guard, but Cyborg wasnt playing that game and she rose to her feet before letting loose with punches to the head. Evinger did get a quick takedown midway through the round, only to see Cyborg jump to her feet again. The action came to a brief halt after an inadvertent eye poke by Evinger, and when the action resumed, Cyborg scored with a hard knee to the body. Evinger was hanging tough, though, even as she took Cyborgs thunder.

RELATED: Lawler bests Cerrone| Lawler Backstage Interview|UFC 214 Prelim Results

Evingers toughness was the story of round two, as she stayed in with the hard-hitting Brazilian, even though Cyborg completely dominated the frame.

A right hand followed by a kick to the head rocked Evinger, but she shook it off until a follow-up shot put her on the deck briefly. The Texan got back to her feet, but her offense was having no effect on Cyborg, who ultimately landed the finisher a left knee to the head that put Evinger on the deck, with a single right hand bringing in referee Mike Beltran to halt the fight at 1:56 of round three.

The 145-pound belt was left vacant when champion Germaine de Randamie was unwilling to fight Cyborg.

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CYBORG vs EVINGER - UFC

League Casters Compare Future Of Healthcare To Death By Cyborg Man-Crab – Kotaku Australia

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The uncertain future of the American health care system, or being ground to death by a giant cyborg?

In a talk show-stylesegment that aired between games one and two of TSM vs. FlyQuest in today's League Championship Series matches, Josh "Jatt" Leesman and Sam "Kobe" Hartman-Kenzler debated which is more terrifying: the League of Legends champion Urgot's newly reworked ultimate, or the future of American healthcare. (The segment was recorded and published to YouTube two days prior to airing on the LCS stream.)

For reference, the Urgot ultimate launches a hook into enemies, which tethers them to the horrific melding of man and machine. If the enemy's health drops below a certain threshold, Urgot drags them in, shoots them in the face and grinds them up in his ab-gears.

American healthcare, meanwhile, has had millions of Americans on the edge of their seat, wondering if their current plans will still be effective the next day.

The segment is meant to be lighthearted, so Kobe and Jatt debate the two with a comedic back-and-forth. Both seem to land on the Urgot ultimate, one claiming that by definition, it's more terrifying (a successful Urgot ultimate applies a "fear" effect to nearby enemies).

A few responses on social media noted the strange jump from League analysis into politics, though This Or That has certainly never shied away from riffing on controversial subjects.

So, this or that?

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If you're looking forward to the next season of Rick and Morty, you're not the only one. But if you'd like to find a way to watch the series legally, then we've got your back.

Though he doesn't have traditional super powers like most of his friends, Batman's got a lot going for him. He's a handsome, rich, athletic white guy with virtually endless resources at his disposal. And yet, every so often, people come along who feel as if that's not enough to make Batman a real superhero.

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League Casters Compare Future Of Healthcare To Death By Cyborg Man-Crab - Kotaku Australia

Faster bacteria testing solves decades-old dilemma at Chicago beaches – Chicago Sun-Times

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Hundreds of thousands of people plunge into the water along Chicagos lakefront each year, and theyre joined by trillions of beach-going bacteria. This summer, city parks officials and a team of University of Illinois at Chicago researchers believe they have come up with a way to keep swimmers out of the water when theyre too far outnumbered by microbes.

For decades, public health experts and park officials have been bedeviled by the problem of when to close city beaches to protect swimmers from the invisible scourge of illness-causing bacteria like E. coli.

Testing required letting water samples incubate for up to 24 hours, meaning swimmers wouldnt know if theyd dunked themselves among dangerous levels of bacteria until the day after theyd taken the plunge. And day-old data meant the lifeguards were warning people out of the water based on conditions the day before, likely discouraging people from swimming on days the water was perfectly safe.

Its not that the old (culture) test wasnt giving us accurate results, it just turned out that they werent as useful, said Cathy Breitenbach, the Park Districts director of cultural and natural resources.

It turns out, yesterdays water quality wasnt the same as todays.

The city last year ended a five-year pilot program to predict bacteria counts using high-tech buoys that measured water temperature, currents and wave action, which also coincided with a two-year pilot of a rapid-testing method that measures bacterial DNA in the water within just a few hours.

This summer, park district officials picked a team from UIC to conduct same-day tests of the water, the first major city to adopt testing protocols recently approved by the EPA to identify the concentrations of bacterial DNA in lake water.

Everybody else reports to the public what water quality was yesterday, because they use the old culture procedure, said Dr. Samuel Dorevitch, a UIC public health professor who is leading the team of researchers who conduct the daily testing.

Here are the beaches along Lake Michigan in the Chicago area where water samples are taken to test for contamination. | Provided

Water samples from 20 spots on the lakefront, and the artificial beach in Humboldt Park, are dropped off each morning by 8 a.m. at the West Side campus, and test results are completed by noon, Dorevitch said. The quick turnaround allows the Park District to post warnings at beaches based on the levels of bacteria measured that morning. The data also is posted to the web at http://www.cpdbeaches.com, and bacteria counts of 1,000 Calibrator Cell Equivalents trigger an advisory.

The Park District in 2012 ended the practice of banning swimming based on bacteria levels beaches still are closed for rough surf and after the rare instances when the locks on the Chicago River are opened to release stormwater instead posting advisories to alert swimmers of the risks.

So far this summer, the Park District has posted advisories for high bacteria 180 times at 26 beaches tested, which appears to be on pace with the number of advisories in the previous two years. But, Breitenbach said, this year, advisories will likely do more to protect public health, since the alerts will be based on data that is only 4 hours old.

Environmentalists have praised the switch to rapid testing for just that reason, said Joshua Mogerman of the National Resources Defense Fund, which sued the EPA more than a decade ago in a bid to force the agency to authorize faster testing protocols.

Timely information is important for making sure that a day at the beach is really a day at the beach, and not something really unpleasant, Mogerman said, noting that bacteria can lead to infections that cause rashes and gastrointestinal illnesses.

The NRDC hopes that Chicagos program will be a model for other cities with lake and ocean beachfronts, Mogerman said.

So far this year, North Avenue Beach is the only beach that has gone without a single advisory day, said UIC researcher Abhilasha Shrestha, who also worked on pilot studies that did rapid testing on city beaches in each of the last two years. The beach that has most frequently had high bacteria counts is the artificial beach at Humboldt Park, with 38 advisory days since the citys parks and pools opened on Memorial Day.

Generally, bacteria in the lake stem from animal sources, especially feces from seagulls, dogs, and, to a far lesser extent, dirty diapers, said Shrestha. Levels climb when heavy rains cause runoff into the lake. Rough water, which stirs up algae and sediment in the water, also can free more bacteria into the beachfront.

Those concerned about bacteria in Lake Michigan should be aware that a Centers For Disease Control study from 2012 found that three-quarters of bacteria-related illness outbreaks were linked to pools and spas, rather than oceans and lakes. The Chicago lakefront may have issues with runoff in some areas, but the fact that the Chicago River flows away from the lake means sewer overflows seldom are being poured into the lake, Breitenbach said.

Our beaches are actually pretty clean, she said.

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Faster bacteria testing solves decades-old dilemma at Chicago beaches - Chicago Sun-Times

Missing swimmer: Young woman was skinny dipping in Point Pleasant Beach – New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio

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POINT PLEASANT BEACH Rescue crews are searching the rough waters off the Jersey Shore for a female swimmer who went missing early Sunday.

The first call came into Point Pleasant Beach Police around 2:15 a.m, for a swimmer in trouble in the water, police said.

Crews from the US Coast Guard, the State Police Marine Division and Point Pleasant Fire Department all began a search along with a dive team.

The Coast Guard reported the missing person as a 24-year-old white woman with brown hair who was swimming with a friend.

10 NJ kids have drowned in the last month What parents need to know now

The woman was was not wearing a bathing suit or any clothes when she went into the water with a man, according to ABC 7 Eyewitness News, which also reported several articles of clothing were found on the beach.

Red flags are flying at ocean beaches up-and-down the Jersey Shore, indicating a high risk of rip currents.

Despite the beautiful weather forecast sunny and warm, with low humidity it would be a wise idea to stick to the sand and stay out of the downright dangerous ocean waves Sunday, New Jersey 101.5 Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow said. As our powerful coastal storm system continues to kick out to sea, its still pushing a lot of water toward the Jersey Shore. Six to eight-foot waves will batter the beaches Sunday, with conditions improving very slowly as the day progresses.

The power of the rip current was demonstrated earlier this summer when four teens died at beaches inBelmarandAtlantic City

The National Weather Service says you can spot a potential rip current by watching for these factors:

If you find yourself caught in a rip current, the NWS has some advice to follow:

Contact reporter Dan Alexander atDan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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Missing swimmer: Young woman was skinny dipping in Point Pleasant Beach - New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio

Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition entries reveal the beauty of the night sky – NEWS.com.au

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Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Uluru under the Milky Way. Picture: Toi Wu Yip (Hong Kong) Taken on the photographers first visit to Uluru, it was winter in the Southern Hemisphere and the sky had turned dark before the closing of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. After all the other tourists left once they had finished watching the famous Uluru sunset, the photographer was left alone wait for the night show to start. Eventually the Milky Way came out and appeared above the giant red rock; the sky was so clear that some airglow could be seen above the horizon. Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia, 7 July 2016

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Mr Big Dipper. Picture: Nicholas Roemmelt (Denmark) A stargazer observes the constellation of the Big Dipper perfectly aligned with the window of the entrance to a large glacier cave in Engadin, Switzerland. This is a panorama of two pictures, and each is a stack of another two pictures: one for the stars and another one for the foreground, but with no composing or time blending.

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Reflection . Picture:Beate Behnke (Germany) The reflection in the wave ripples of Skagsanden beach mirrors the brilliant green whirls of the Aurora Borealis in the night sky overhead. To obtain the effect of the shiny surface, the photographer had to stand in the wave zone of the incoming flood, and only when the water receded very low did the opportunity to capture the beautiful scene occur. Skagsanden, Lofoten, Norway, 28 October 2016

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Beautiful Trmso . Picture: Derek Burdeny (USA) The aurora activity forecast was low for this evening, so the photographer remained in Troms rather than driving to the fjord. The unwitting photographer captured Natures answer to a stunning firework display as the Northern Lights dance above a rainbow cast in the waters of the harbour in Trmso made for a spectacular display, but did not realize what he had shot until six months later when reviewing his images. Troms, Norway, 7 March 2016

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: A Battle We Are Losing . Picture: Haitong Yu (China) The Milky Way rises ominously above a small radio telescope from a large array at Miyun Station, National Astronomical Observatory of China, in the suburbs of Beijing. The image depicts the ever-growing light pollution we now experience, which together with electromagnetic noise has turned many optical and radio observatories near cities both blind and deaf a battle that inspired the photographers title of the shot. The image used a light pollution filter (iOptron L-Pro) and multiple frame stacking to get the most of the Milky Way out of the city light. Beijing, China, 2 March 2017

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Auroral Crown . Picture: Yulia Zhulikova (Russia) During an astrophotography tour of the Murmansk region with Stas Korotkiy, an amateur astronomer and popularizer of astronomy in Russia, the turquoise of the Aurora Borealis swirls above the snow covered trees. Illuminated by street lamps, the trees glow a vivid pink forming a contrasting frame for Natures greatest lightshow. Murmansk, Russia, 3 January 2017

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Fall Milk . Picture: Brandon Yoshizawa (USA) The snow-clad mountain in the Eastern Sierras towers over the rusty aspen grove aligned perfectly in front of it, whilst our galaxy the Milky Way glistens above. Eastern Sierras, California, USA, 21 October 2016

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: NGC 2170: Dust and Reflections . Picture: Steven Mohr (Australia) This very unusual but beautiful reflection nebula can be found in the constellation of Monoceros. Adjoining NGC 2170 is a dense red emission region, while flowing overhead, and dispersing in numerous directions, are fluttering ribbons of pronounced dense dust, which sit in the foreground of the gentle red emission nebula LBN999. To the lower right of the image, the scene is shared with the delicate reflection nebula NGC 2182. The image is a composition of luminance, red, green and blue filters, which were then processed in CCDStack, CCDBand-Aid, Photoshop, PixInsight, and StarTools. Central Victoria, Australia, 3 March 2017

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Crescent Moon over Mount Banks . Picture: Luke Tscharke (Australia) In the Blue Mountains, the photographer jumped out of his sleeping bag, and left the campsite to see an early morning cloud inversion had swept across the Grose Valley, dancing as a soft warm breeze pushed it along its way. The galactic core of the Milky Way was visible above the waning crescent Moon, seemingly stacked over the silhouetted summit of Mount Banks. In the distance, beyond the city lights of Sydney, a brightening patch on the horizon indicated the rising Sun was soon to appear. The best things in life may be free but they do sometimes require an early alarm! Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales, Australia, 6 March 2016

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Super Moon . Picture: Giorgia Hofer (Italy) The magnificent sight of the Super Moon illuminating the night sky as it sets behind the Marmarole, in the heart of the Dolomites in Italy. On the night of 14 November 2016, the Moon was at perigee at 356.511 km away from the centre of Earth, the closest occurrence since 1948. It will not be closer again until 2034. On this night, the Moon was 30% brighter and 14% bigger than other full moons. Laggio di Cadore, Province of Belluno, Italy, 15 November 2016

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Shooting Star and Jupiter . Picture: Rob Bowes (UK) A shooting star flashes across the sky over the craggy landscape of Portland, Dorset, as our neighbouring planet Jupiter looks on. The image is of two stacked exposures: one for the sky and one for the rocks. Portland, Dorset, UK, 25 March 2017

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Eastern Prominence . Picture: Paul Andrew (UK) A large, searing hedgerow prominence extends from the surface of the Sun on 29 August 2016. There are a number of different prominence types that have been observed emanating from the Sun, and the hedgerow prominence is so called due the grouping of small prominences resembling rough and wild shrubbery. Dover, Kent, UK, 29 August 2016

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Solar Trails above the Telescope Maciej Zapior (Poland) Taken with a solargraphy pinhole camera, the image charts the movement of the Sun over the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague with an exposure of half a year (21 December 201521 June 2016). As a photosensitive material, regular black-and-white photographic paper without developing was used, and after exposure the negative was scanned and post-processed using a graphic program (colour and contrast enhancement). The exposure time was from solstice to solstice, thus recording the solar trails above the telescope dome and the rainbow of colours of the trails are the result of the sensitivity of the paper changing as it is exposed to different temperatures and humidity.

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: The Road Back Home. Picture:Ruslan Merzlyakov (Latvia) Noctilucent clouds stretch across the Swedish sky illuminating a motorcyclists ride home in this dramatic display. Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds in the Earths atmosphere and form above 200,000 ft. Thought to be formed of ice crystals, the clouds occasionally become visible at twilight when the Sun is below the horizon and illuminates them. Near Ume, Sweden, 8 August 2016

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: NGC 2170: Dust and Reflections . Picture: Steven Mohr (Australia) This very unusual but beautiful reflection nebula can be found in the constellation of Monoceros. Adjoining NGC 2170 is a dense red emission region, while flowing overhead, and dispersing in numerous directions, are fluttering ribbons of pronounced dense dust, which sit in the foreground of the gentle red emission nebula LBN999. To the lower right of the image, the scene is shared with the delicate reflection nebula NGC 2182. The image is a composition of luminance, red, green and blue filters, which were then processed in CCDStack, CCDBand-Aid, Photoshop, PixInsight, and StarTools. Central Victoria, Australia, 3 March 2017

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Crescent Moon over the Needles . Picture: Ainsley Bennett (UK) The 7% waxing crescent Moon setting in the evening sky over the Needles Lighthouse at the western tip of the Isle of Wight. Despite the Moon being a thin crescent, the rest of its shape is defined by sunlight reflecting back from the Earths surface. Alum Bay, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, UK, 3 October 2016

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: ISS Daylight Transit . Picture: Dani Caxete (Spain) The International Space Station (ISS) whizzes across the dusky face of the Earths natural satellite, the Moon, whilst photographed in broad daylight. Shining with a magnitude of -3.5, the ISS was illuminated by the Sun at a height of 9 on the horizon. Like the Moon, the ISS receives solar rays in a similar way during its 15 orbits of the Earth a day, making it possible to see it when the Sun is still up. This is a real shot, with no composite or clipping in the process. Madrid, Spain, 2 April 2017

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017 shortlist selection: Tarantula Colours . Picture: Diego Colonnello (Venezuela) The Tarantula Nebula or 30 Doradus is an H II region, or a region of interstellar atomic hydrogen that has been ionized, that is found in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Although it is about 160,000 light years away, the Tarantula Nebula has an apparent magnitude of 8, meaning that is an extremely luminous object, and if it were as close to our planet as the Orion Nebula is, it would actually cast visible shadows. Airport West, Victoria, Australia, 10 February 2017

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Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition entries reveal the beauty of the night sky - NEWS.com.au