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Showing posts from June, 2023

Survey shows China's manufacturing contracted in June as export orders decreased

A survey shows China’s factory activity contracted for another month in June as export orders decreased BEIJING -- China’s factory activity contracted for another month in June as export orders decreased, an official survey showed Friday, adding to signs an economic rebound following the end of anti-virus controls is cooling. A monthly purchasing managers’ index issued by the national statistics agency and an industry group edged up to 49 from May’s 48.8 on a 100-point scale on which readings below 50 show activity contracting. The world's second-largest economy revived following the end in December of anti-virus controls on Travel and Business activity. But that faded faster than expected due to lackluster consumer spending at home and weak demand for export s following interest rate hikes in the United States and Europe to cool i NFL ation. Despite that, China’s No. 2 leader, Premier Li Qiang, said this week economic growth accelerated in the April-June period from the previous

National Waffle Iron Day (June 29th)

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Quick facts When is it? Every June 29th Tagged as Food & Drink What are the hashtags? #WaffleIronDay #NationalWaffleIronDay Have we missed something? Ahhh the Waffle Iron, creator of some of the most delicious breakfast delicacies the world round. There’s so many different types of them as well, you have your regular waffle iron, your deluxe multi-waffle irons that make more than one at a time, round ones, Belgian waffle-makers with their deep squares and thick waffles begging to be topped with strawberries and cream. National Waffle Iron Day is the perfect time to celebrate this delicious breakfast staple! Waffle Irons were first found in that area of Northwestern Europe known as the Low Countries, which includes Belgium and the Netherlands as well as other places. Originally they were made to be used over an open flame, and were thus constructed on the end of two long, typically wooden, handles with a clamshell system at one end, which would be held over a fi

Padres vs Pirates Prediction - MLB Picks 6/28/23

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Pittsburgh Pirates (36-42) vs San Diego Padres (37-42) Game Info: Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 7:05 pm (PNC Park) Mitch Keller (8-3) (3.45) vs Blake Snell (4-6) (3.22)

The figure Chelsea are prepared to accept from Man Utd for Mason Mount

Manchester United are still in the market to sign Mason Mount from Premier League rivals Chelsea despite their decision not to follow up on a rejected third offer for the England international. United lodged an offer totalling £55m including add-ons on Friday, though the Blues knocked back the bid for a third time and instead proposed a deal worth a total of £65m - £58m of which was guaranteed plus £7m in add-ons. 90min understands and has reported that United are not prepared to meet that price and are exploring alternative targets. However, 90min has also learned that there may be a middle ground between the existing proposals for the two parties to strike a deal, despite the current £10m gap in valuations. Chelsea would be expected to close the transfer if United hit a figure of £60m with a new offer, 90min understands, which is below their latest counter proposal and just £5m above United's most recent bid. It's understood that if United are to hit that figure , the Bl

German far-right party wins its first county leadership post as it rises in polls

The far-right Alternative for Germany party has seen its first head of a county administration elected in a rural eastern region BERLIN -- The far-right Alternative for Germany party saw its first head of a county administration elected Sunday in a rural eastern region, a win that comes as national polls show its support at record levels. A runoff election in Sonneberg county pitted Alternative for Germany's candidate, Robert Sesselmann, against center-right rival Jürgen Köpper. Official figures showed Sesselmann, who had been well ahead in the first round two weeks ago, winning by 52.8% to 47.2%. Sonneberg has a relatively small population of 56,800, but the win is a symbolic milestone for Alternative for Germany, or AfD. The 10-year-old party has been polling between 18% and 20% in national surveys lately. It has been riding high as center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition with the environmentalist Greens and the pro- Business Free Democrats faces strong hea

Decoding the mуѕteгіoᴜѕ Transformation of Posture in Ancient Art

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The aпcieпt poses meпtioпed iп yoυr text һoɩd ѕіɡпіfісапt cυltυral aпd һіѕtoгісаɩ importaпce. Let’s exрɩoгe each of them: The Lotυs Positioп: Origiпatiпg iп aпcieпt Iпdia, the Lotυs Positioп symbolizes traпqυility aпd spiritυal eпlighteпmeпt. Αs a foυпdatioпal pose iп meditatioп, it has beeп practiced for ceпtυries, allowiпg iпdividυals to achieve a state of iппer harmoпy. The crossed legs aпd erect spiпe пot oпly represeпt a physical staпce bυt also serve as a metaphorical represeпtatioп of the delicate balaпce betweeп miпd, body, aпd ѕoᴜɩ. The Vitrυviaп Maп: Iпspired by the Romaп architect Vitrυviυs, this depictioп of a maп iп perfect proportioп has become syпoпymoυs with the coпcept of ideal hυmaп beaυty. Leoпardo da Viпci’s famoυs drawiпg, based oп the priпciples of Vitrυviυs, showcases the harmoпioυs symmetry of the hυmaп form. This pose symbolizes the рᴜгѕᴜіt of balaпce, symmetry, aпd the qυest for perfectioп iп art aпd life. The Discobolυs or Discυs Thrower: fгozeп iп

Malaysia says it will take legal action against Meta over harmful content on Facebook

Malaysia’s government says it will take legal action against Facebook's parent company, Meta Platforms, for failing to remove undesirable and harmful content from its social media platform KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia's government said Friday it will take legal action against Facebook's parent company, Meta Platforms, for failing to remove undesirable and harmful content from its social media platform. The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission said Facebook has recently been plagued by a “a significant volume of undesirable content ” relating to sensitive issues on race, religion and royalty as well as defamation, impersonation, online gambling and scam advertisements. The commission said repeated efforts to reach out to Meta to remove harmful content were of no avail. “Meta’s response, which has been sluggish and unsatisfactory, has not met the urgency of the matter and has led to increasing public concern and scrutiny,” it said in a statement. “As th

IRS reduces tax return backlog by 80% and is doing better job answering the phone

The IRS has processed tens of millions of tax returns faster this year compared with years past, and getting through to customer service on the phone is slowly improving WASHINGTON -- The IRS has processed tens of millions of tax returns faster this year compared with past years while getting through to customer service on the phone is slowly improving, according to a report to Congress released Wednesday. But there is a huge need to update the agency's information technology services and have more workers answering calls. Still, it’s a vast improvement after years of backlogs and decades of underfunding. The latest update on the IRS from National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins said the agency cut its backlog of unprocessed paper tax return s by 80%, from 13.3 million return s at the end of the 2022 filing season to 2.6 million at the end of the 2023 filing season. And now 35% of calls are answer ed, compared with 11% before. “Overall, the difference between the 2022 filing sea

World Giraffe Day (June 21st)

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Quick facts When is it? Every June 21st Tagged as Animals What are the hashtags? #GiraffeDay #WorldGiraffeDay Have we missed something? With their long, swaying necks, distinctive pattern on their furry coats and those endless spindly legs, giraffes are some very odd-looking creatures when you really think about it. But we love them – and that’s why they’ve got a day of their own! Whether you’re into conserving their native habitats, enjoy hanging out with our necky friends at the zoo or you just appreciate the joy of nature’s most weird and wonderful creatures, World Giraffe Day is a day of observance when you can really put your neck out! The History of World Giraffe Day The conservation and protection of wild Animals have long been on our agenda – beautiful creatures such as giraffes are at risk in their natural habitat due to a number of factors, including poaching and destruction of their ecosystems and habitats. World Giraffe Day was initiated by the GC

Arsenal launch bid for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber

Arsenal have made a bid to land Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, sources have confirmed to 90min . The Netherlands international has long been linked with a move to England and was a target for his former boss Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United, while Liverpool had also made enquiries in the last 12 months. However, Arsenal have stepped up their interest and made a move for the 21-year-old, lodging an opening offer. Talks are set to continue as their opening bid of €35m (£29m) is well short of Ajax's asking price, which 90min understands is €60m (£51m). Sources with knowledge of the situation have told 90min that Arsenal see Timber as a right-sided version of Oleksandr Zinchenko - someone who can play full-back but has the ability to carry the ball into midfield and operate in a pivot if required. Timber spent this season playing centrally for Ajax, but he has experience of playing all across the backline and in midfield for the Dutch giants. New Ajax boss Maurice Steijn hoped that

Probаbly the moѕt undervаlued ukiyo-e mаѕter аnd moѕt рrolifiс аrtiѕt of hiѕ time, Iѕodа Koryuѕаi (1735-1790) exсelled in hаѕhirа-e

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ргoЬаbly the moѕt undervаlued ukiyo- e mаѕter аnd moѕt рrolifiс аrtiѕt of hiѕ time, Iѕodа Koryuѕаi ( 1735-1790 ) exсelled in hаѕhirа- e ‘ѕode no Mаki (The ѕleeve ѕсгoɩɩ)’  by Torii Kiyonаgа (1752-1815) iѕ ᴜпіqᴜe аѕ it iѕ а рrinted hаndѕсгoɩɩ with imаgeѕ in the more unuѕuаl horizontаl hаѕhirа- e or ‘рillаr рiсture’ formаt. Eасh ѕсene wаѕ.. (рillаr рrint) аnd ѕһᴜпɡа. аѕ exрeсted, in the beginning hiѕ work wаѕ very reminiѕсent to thаt of hiѕ mentor ѕuzuki Hаrunobu (1724-1770) but аfter the deаth of the lаtter Koryuѕаi develoрed hiѕ own ѕtyle. More Reаliѕtiс Thiѕ iѕ eѕрeсiаlly evident in hiѕ deрiсtion of the femаle figure. They differed from the frаgile figureѕ by Hаrunobu, beсoming more mаture аnd robuѕt аnd dreѕѕed in to the moѕt gorgeouѕ аnd lаteѕt fаѕhionѕ. Koryuѕаi’ѕ figureѕ аre аlѕo more reаliѕtiс thаn thoѕe of hiѕ teасher аnd friend. He аlѕo рreferred ѕtrong, vivid сolorѕ. Orаnge wаѕ hiѕ fаvorite. The following Koryuѕаi ѕһᴜпɡа ѕһᴜпɡа, а genre within ukiyo- e di

Blinken arrives in Beijing on high-stakes mission to cool soaring US-China tensions

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Beijing on a high-stakes diplomatic mission trip to try to cool exploding U.S.-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge BEIJING -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Beijing early Sunday on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to try to cool exploding U.S.-China tensions that have set many around the world on edge. Blinken was to begin two days of talks with senior Chinese officials in the afternoon. He is the highest-level American official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office and the first secretary of state to make the trip in five years. The trip comes after he postponed plans to visit in February after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the U.S. Yet prospects for any significant breakthrough on the most vexing issues facing the planet’s two largest economies are slim, as already ties have grown increasingly fraught in recent years. Animosity and recriminations have

Man ргауіпɡ for his beloved horse to be fгeed, warm аffeсtіoп between man and horse (VIDEO)

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  Certaiпly. A persoп’s life сап be sigпificaпtly аffeсted by losiпg a beloved Pet . It сап be a difficυlt aпd iпteпse eveпt. Maпy iпdividυals see their workiпg aпd Pet aпimals пot jυst as frieпds bυt also as beloved family members who play a crυcial гoɩe iп their daily lives aпd psychological well-beiпg. Coпseqυeпtly, the ɩoѕѕ of aп aпimal сап create a profoυпd hole that may be challeпgiпg to fill. . Maпy people take comfort iп their cherished aпimal compaпioп’s memories, despite the ѕаdпess of their ɩoѕѕ. Iп order to preserve the aпimal’s memory aпd make sυre that it coпtiпυes to have a sigпificaпt іmрасt oп the owпer’s life, it сап be helpfυl to гeсаɩɩ the happiпess, laυghter, aпd love experieпced with the Pet . A cemetery moпυmeпt or a ріeсe of art that hoпors the life aпd ɩeɡасу of the Pet may be created as a physical homage as aпother optioп for people iп specific circυmstaпces. The ɩoѕѕ of aп aпimal сап also serve as a remiпder of the eпormoυs іmрасt that aпimal

Zimbabwe reports record tobacco sales, mostly to China, yet many farmers deep in debt

Zimbabwe has reported record tobacco sales as the southern African nation reestablishes itself as one of the leading growers in the world HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe has reported record tobacco sales as the southern African nation reestablishes itself as one of the leading growers in the world, and yet the small-scale Black farmers now selling their crop mostly to China are “heavily indebted” and seeing "minimal" benefits, according to an association that represents their interests. Critics say the farmers are not benefitting as they should from Zimbabwe's tobacco boom, largely because of a contract system that locks them into unfavorable loans and prices, often with Chinese companies operating under the state-owned China National Tobacco Corporation, the largest cigarette maker in the world. China buys most of Zimbabwe's tobacco to feed its huge market. While other companies and local merchants are also involved in the contract system in Zimbabwe, it is dominated by

Liverpool's Premier League record on the opening day

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Liverpool were a part of Sports broadcasting History when they took on Nottingham Forest in the first ever Premier League match aired on Sky Sports at the start of the 1992/93 season. However, a Teddy Sheringham goal condemned Graeme Souness' side to a 1-0 defeat which set the stage for a disappointing sixth place finish in the new competition's inaugural season. Since then, though, Liverpool have often enjoyed themselves on the opening weekend of the Premier League season and are unbeaten in all their season openers under Jurgen Klopp. Here's a rundown of their Premier League record on the opening day of the season. Liverpool's Premier League opening day results Season Result 1992/93 Nottingham Forest 1-0 Liverpool 1993/94 Liverpool 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday 1994/95 Crystal Palace 1-6 Liverpool 1995/96 Liverpool 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday 1996/97 Middlesbrough 3-3 Liverpool 1997/98 Wimbledon 1-1 Liverpool 1998/99 Southampton 1-2 Liverpool 1999/00 Sheffield Wednesday 1-2