NBA All-Star weekend: Stephen Curry masters the dunk and lob
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Before the NBA All-Star game game ended, Stephen Curry needed to give the hometown crowd one last parting gift. He didn’t heave a shot from halfcourt. He didn’t shoot a 3. He didn’t even attempt a floater.Instead, Curry did not something that rarely defines his game. He threw down a dunk. With the clock ticking down to zero, Team LeBron had no inkling to play any defense. And why would they? They were about to cement a 178-164 win over “Team Giannis” in Sunday’s NBA All-Star …
South Africa has launched a three-year incentive scheme to help black filmmakers develop their businesses to the point they can take on big productions – and create more jobs in the country’s growing movie industry.Trade and industry minister Rob Davies launched the South African Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive Programme on 16 September.The programme, which will run until March 2017, will give a rebate of 50% for the first R6-million filmmakers spend in Qualifying South African Production Expenditure. Known as QSAPE, this is the money spent on copyright and goods owned by film producers, and on facilities and services provided by South African companies and individuals. Qualifying applicants will also receive 25% of QSAPE expenses over R6-million.Local filmmaker Uzanenkosi Mahlangu, creator and producer of the local TV series Intersexions, said the new incentive would benefit South African black scriptwriters and filmmakers, as they currently struggled to produce uncommissioned, original material by themselves.“The incentive programme will change all of that,” he said. “Although it might not persuade lawyers and economists to turn into filmmakers but it might stop some filmmakers from feeling like they needed something to fall back on.”Making films to boost economic growthDavies said at the launch that the new incentive aimed to give emerging black filmmakers direct support that was not available in the Film and Television Production and Coproduction Incentive programme, launched in 2004. That scheme was set up to stimulate economic growth and participation in the industry.“The film industry, through various engagements and consultations, indicated that the previous scheme and threshold did not accommodate nor support emerging filmmakers,” he said.“The Department of Trade and Industry has now reduced the threshold and upped the incentive in an effort to create many opportunities for people with low-budget productions for televisions and films. In this way more productions will be supported than ever before.”In discussions held with members of the film and TV industry in May, Davies gave the assurance that his department would continue to improve its incentive scheme for South African filmmakers.The country’s movie industry needs quality filmmakers, he said at the launch of the incentive, for it to live up to its reputation of being a competitive driver of the economy. The DTI also plans to send a trade mission to Hollywood to showcase the South African film industry.The incentive is open to South African black-owned qualifying productions with a total production budget of R1-million or more. Companies must be at least 65% owned by black South Africans and have a level three black economic empowerment status. They must also employ a black producer or director who is credited for that role in the film.Related links:Industrial Development CorporationDepartment of Trade and IndustryNational Film and Video Foundation
The India-England WC match has been shifted as Eden Gardens couldn’t meet the ICC deadline.It was January 5, 1934, when Eden Gardens in Kolkata (then Calcutta) hosted its first test match which was between India and England. The then England team led by the legendary Douglas Jardine had put the people of Calcutta in embarrassment as India was out for 247 in the first innings, and was asked to follow-on.Fortunately, India could save its first game in Eden Gardens because of a brave halfcentury by Dilawar Hussain and 43 by opening batsman Naoomal Jaoomal in the second innings. It was the beginning of a new era of cricket in Kolkata, and Eden Gardens, the second-largest cricket stadium in the world, had become a place of pilgrimage for most cricketers as well as cricket-lovers.The picturesque ground is believed to have the most passionate and vocal cricket spectators. It is said that a cricketer’s cricketing education is not complete till he has played a game in front of a packed Eden Gardens.But, exactly 77 years after the historic test match, people of Kolkata have now again been subjected to humiliation in the Eden Gardens. The International Cricket Council ( ICC) has dropped the crucial India- England match, scheduled to be held on February 27 in Eden Gardens. Both India and England are favourites to win the ICC World Cup.The ICC officials found that the infrastructure in the Mecca of cricket in Asia is still not ready to host the crucial match on February 27. Repeated requests by the officials of Cricket Association of Bengal ( CAB) to the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) and the ICC did not yield any consideration.The entire state of West Bengal has been embarrassed because of ICC’s decision. All the Kolkata- based newspapers carried headline stories on the issue, describing that the World Cup fever is totally lost in Bengal even before a single ball is bowled.All the satellite television channels too have been airing headlines and debates on the ICC’s decision to shift the India- England match. Some even alleged that ICC president Sharad Pawar, who is a minister in the United Progressive Alliance government, is desperate to project Eden Gardens in poor light because West Bengal is ruled by the Left Front.As West Bengal is poll- bound, common people are worried that the crucial India- England match in Kolkata should not be a victim of political one- upmanship.Fortunately, railway minister Mamata Banerjee, so far, has not made any attempt to politicise the Eden Gardens issue.Humiliated with the ICC decision, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee promised all possible help to the CAB to retain the crucial India- England match in Eden Gardens.He said it is a ” major setback” for the cricket- loving people of the state.Even sports minister Kanti Ganguly held meetings with CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya to find out ways to retain the crucial tie in Kolkata, and put an end to the embarrassment to the state.Chuni Goswami, a great footballer, and former captain of the Bengal Ranji Trophy team said that the crisis over Eden Gardens was result of ” sheer lack of judgement”. He said the CAB should not have undertaken massive renovation works at the stadium.In recent times, Eden Gardens has not been getting international matches primarily because of CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya’s hostility with BCCI honchos, including its president Shashank Manohar and ICC chief Sharad Pawar. The last oneday international here was played on December 24, 2009.Meanwhile, there has been strong demand by a section of the people to immediately remove CAB secretary Biswaroop Dey, and entrust former Team India captain Saurav Ganguly to handle the World Cup matches in Eden Gardens.In response to this demand, the chief minister has appointed the former India captain to liaison with Sharad Pawar for the World Cup preparations. Roads in several places in Kolkata were blocked by people in protest against the ICC decision.If ICC cancels the three other World Cup matches in Eden Garden, it would be the last nail in the coffin. In addition to the February 27 one- dayer, Eden Gardens is scheduled to host Ireland- Holland, South Africa- Ireland and Zimbabwe- Kenya matches.If the crucial India- England match is not held, will Kolkata be happy with the other matches? Can Eden Garden bail itself out of the crisis again?advertisement
New Delhi: A day after he was shifted from the high profile Ministry of Finance to the Power Ministry, senior bureaucrat Subhash Chandra Garg on Thursday applied for voluntary retirement from service, sources said. Once the application of Garg seeking voluntary retirement is accepted he would become the first finance secretary to do so in 19 years. Garg was due for superannuation on October 31, 2020. In November 2000, senior IAS officer EAS Sharma also called it quits after being shunted out from the finance ministry to the relatively low key coal ministry during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. Also Read – India gets first tranche of Swiss bank a/c detailsInstead of taking up coal secretary post, Sarma, who was the economic affairs secretary in the Vajpayee regime, had retired voluntarily, a year and two months before his superannuation date. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had on Wednesday approved the appointment of Atanu Chakroborty, an 85-batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer, as the new Finance Secretary. Chakroborty was serving as Disinvestment Secretary. Also Read – Tourists to be allowed in J&K from ThursdayThe government also appointed power secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla as Officer on Special Duty in the Home Ministry and he will take over as the new Union Home Secretary succeeding Rajiv Gauba when he retires on August 31. According to a DoPT order, Bhalla, a 1984 batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, will join the MHA with immediate effect and continue to function as OSD till Gauba retires for the smooth transition of the charges. Anil Kumar Khachi, a 1986-batch IAS from Himachal Pradesh cadre will be the new Disinvestment Secretary succeeding Chakraborty. As per the DoPT order, Anshu Prakash, 1986-batch UT cadre IAS officer, appointed as new Telecom Secretary while his batch-mate from West Bengal cadre RS Shukla will join as Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs. Ravi Capoor, a 1986-batch Assam Meghalaya cadre, was appointed Secretary, Textiles while his batch-mate Atul Chaturvedi was sent to Animal Husbandry and Dairying department in the same capacity. The ACC also cleared in-situ upgrade of 12 IAS officers of 1986 batch to the level of Special Secretary in the rank and pay of Secretary, as a measure personal to them, by temporarily upgrading the post held by them, the order said. Those 1986-batch IAS promoted as special secretaries include Anil Kumar Jain in the Environment Ministry, Subash Chandra in the Department of Defence, Sanjeev Nandan Sahai in the Power Ministry, Shambhu Singh in the Roads and Transport Ministry, Ravi Mittal in the Department of Financial Services, Pramod Kumar Das in the Department of Expenditure and Sanjeeva Kumar in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the order said.
LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment TORONTO, June 12, 2017 – Astral Out of Home (AOOH), a division of Bell Media, announced today the introduction of Canada’s largest single digital screen, measuring more than 26 feet high and more than 188 feet long, at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto. Animated in full motion, the new digital wrap delivers a brand-new multi-media experience with stunning, cutting-edge visuals at extremely high resolution.“The Yonge-Dundas Square digital wrap represents a major addition to Astral Out of Home’s already impressive portfolio,” said Karine Moses, President, Astral Out Of Home. “The sheer scale of the screen, with its full motion video capabilities synchronized with a dedicated, static digital screen, provides advertisers with the flexibility to deliver a powerful story while bringing their brand to life.”Located off of one of Canada’s busiest intersections, Yonge-Dundas Square combines a daily traffic of more than 93,000 pedestrians and more than 30,000 vehicles, with two major universities and shopping malls nearby, contributing to a total of more than 52 million visitors a year. The square is also home to many festivals, including NXNE, Luminato, and Nuit Blanche, and most recently hosted the sneak peek of Bat Out of Hell: The Musical. Login/Register With: Twitter Advertisement Advertisement About Astral Out of HomeAstral Out of Home, a division of Bell Media, is one of Canada’s leading out-of-home advertising companies with more than 30,000 advertising faces strategically located in the British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia markets. Driving innovation on one of the country’s most dynamic media platforms, Astral Out of Home is committed to staying at the forefront of the latest technological trends, offering advertisers the opportunity to deliver powerful messages that engage and connect with consumers. For more details, visit www.bellmedia.ca. Facebook Advertisement
Dan Cohen AUTHOR Fort Bragg suffered about $55 million in damage from Hurricane Florence, which dumped several feet of rain over parts of eastern North Carolina last month, the post’s garrison commander said Wednesday during the annual Greater Fayetteville Chamber State of the Community. About 600 buildings were damaged, Col. Kyle Reed said. As of Sept. 30, the post had received about $6 mission in assistance, leaving a $48 million hole. “I’m working on that,” he told the audience, reported the Fayetteville Observer. … Enterprise Florida is looking for a firm to advocate for the state’s defense installation and missions before DOD and Congress. The contractor, which will work under the direction of the Florida Defense Support Task Force (FDSTF), will need to implement initiatives designed to enhance and secure the long-term viability, retention and growth of Florida’s defense assets. Responses to the RFP are due Nov. 9. For more information, contact Terry McCaffrey, FDSTF executive director, at 
