
This $39 AI résumé builder may help you land a job
TL;DR: Use AI to cut back on the time commitment of job hunting. As of
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Real Madrid reach Jude Bellingham agreement with Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid are close to finalising an agreement to sign Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham.
2023-05-27 18:15

'You deserved more than a yes': 'AGT' contestant Grace Good's perfect fiery act leaves fans yearning for Golden Buzzer
Fans disappointed as Grace Good who set 'AGT' Season 18 stage on fire doesn't receive Golden Buzzer
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'People were creeped out by her': Natalia Grace's neighbors say Ukrainian orphan behaved like a 'serial killer'
Apparently, Natalia Grace confessed to a neighbor that she stood over her adoptive parents 'with a knife so they took all the knives away'
2023-06-01 17:48

Pixxel Partners With Sanborn to Arm Customers With Hyperspectral Data
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. & LOS ANGELES & BANGALORE, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 20, 2023--
2023-09-20 19:03

Sportswashing is about to change football beyond anything you can imagine
After Pep Guardiola put down the European Cup, he immediately implored his players to embrace that feeling. The Catalan may have joked in his press conference about catching up with Real Madrid but he was deeply serious in private about now going on to retain the Champions League and win many more. It wasn’t just the joy of victory that ran through the club in the early hours of Sunday morning, after all. It was the sense a psychological barrier had been broken. That has also meant we are in new territory for the game, as it faces a period of huge upheaval. A first Champions League for a state-owned club is a historic landmark, most of all for a future that has long been coming. Such success is a statistical inevitability when you can invest as much as possible without any risk. Many would point to how all of this is actually part of an economic plan for states like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and that is true, even if sport is one part of this where it’s more about normalisation and image than actual economic return. The differences in figures are too great. The “sportswashing” aims are more sophisticated. They still form a core of projects outlined by documents such as The Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The parallel selection of that year, and how all of this has influenced the game, now provokes a more searching question. What will football actually look like by 2030? That year is all the more important since it is when the centenary World Cup will take place, a competition that has immense symbolic value. The hosts will be decided in the third quarter of 2024 and that process is still seen by football industry figures as one of the most influential factors in the game. The outcome essentially dictates the next decade of football, if not longer. That is primarily because they shape the next biggest factors, which are broadcasting deals and the purchase of clubs. This can be tracked over the last 30 years. The 1994 World Cup introduced the United States business world to the true scale of football’s global popularity. It is not a coincidence that, by March 2003, the Glazers purchased their first tranche of shares in Manchester United. A new business trend had been set. The winning of the 2022 World Cup is meanwhile not just as one of the most influential moments in football history but also in the Middle East. Virtually every serious analyst on the area sees it as a direct cause of the Gulf blockade, and it clearly accelerated a sporting race between the involved countries. Other World Cups have had different effects, 2002 for example initiating changes in the calendar, but it was 1994 and 2022 that have contributed the two driving forces shaping football for the next seven years. One is western capitalism, mostly through US venture capitalists and private equity funds. The other is Gulf politics. It is inevitable that the most powerful competition in the world, the Premier League, showcases this. Half of next season’s clubs have American owners with controlling influence. City and Newcastle United are owned by Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, respectively. The competition’s biggest club, Manchester United, may fittingly become a juncture point in this if the Glazers take the immensely consequential - and equally controversial - decision to sell to Qatar. It would also largely illustrate how this works. Barcelona, ‘economic levers’ and the next phase of sportswashing Money from the Gulf blockade countries is the dominant factor, since they are willing to pump in so much of it in all areas. It is within the gaps created by this dramatically expanding game that Western capitalists then exert their influence, picking off purchases where there is opportunity. You only have to look at the capital-raising deals Barcelona struck last summer to stay competitive, all from a world where they had their best executives and players picked off by City and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. La Liga itself pursued the deal with private equity group CVC to try and catch up with the Premier League, while Serie A has been looking at similar. There is a growing theory within the game that the next step in this will be sovereign wealth funds seeking to strike similar deals. That could completely change the power balance between domestic competitions, as one league could suddenly see many of its clubs inflated to Premier League level. It would be an entirely logical evolution from just buying clubs, in the way buying clubs was an evolution from sponsorships and staging events. The recent Saudi announcement of the Public Investment Fund privatising four of its clubs even offers a model. The current model of the game, a global pyramid that has been growing for over a century, is being chipped away at from all angles. Abu Dhabi’s City currently sit at the peak, one which has been made narrower by the financial power required to get to that level. We have reached a point where it feels like only about eight clubs can win the Champions League, although Newcastle will surely join that group. Whether any others do may depend on some huge regulatory decisions. Moves like the Premier League capping spending or Uefa changing prize money rules could bring a badly needed increase in competitive balance. The role of the new English independent regulator is going to be instructive, too. Many football figures in other major countries are watching keenly, and believe the idea could spread. Some even think that would eventually pose a threat to Fifa in terms of removing some of the global body’s power. If the independent regulator can actually prove effective in giving supporters increased stakes in clubs, it could serve to actually row some of this back; to put more of the game back in the hands of fans. The repercussions of the Premier League’s charges against Manchester City It is also why so much hinges on the outcomes of the Premier League charges against Manchester City and the Spanish public prosecutor’s charges against Barcelona. Both could change the face of the game and bring chain reactions. On the other side, a huge question is what Uefa’s stance on multi-club models is going to be. While much of the focus on this is regarding American consortiums, the greatest relevance could be with sovereign wealth funds and states. Since there aren’t actually that many states that want to buy clubs, such a change could facilitate multiple purchases by the same funds. Uefa president Aleksandr Ceferin’s recent softening on this - at least in terms of public statements - has naturally been viewed through the prism of Qatar’s interest in Manchester United with the state already owning PSG. That would pose huge questions of the game’s actual values, given the persistent criticism from human rights groups as regards “sportswashing”. This is also where private equity firms and other capitalist interests could further exert their influence. The intention of many of their club purchases is to flip them within five years after increasing the value. But, who will be able to afford such clubs? More private equity firms, perhaps. More state-linked groups, most likely. That could bring a world where the same state or sovereign wealth fund owns six clubs in the Champions League. The LIV Golf precedent It is why Uefa’s stance on this is so important. LIV Golf’s recent deal with the PGA Tour nevertheless proves what one prominent federation executive told the Independent last year. Autocratic states have so much more money and such a greater will to spend it that sporting authorities can find themselves almost powerless without government backing. That leads many to decide “it’s ultimately better to work with these interests rather than have them working against you”. A connected issue is how examples such as the LIV Golf case and City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak’s notorious line about “the 50 best lawyers” show that such states can “weaponise” legal systems. The gradual purchase of sporting infrastructure has already led to a situation where PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has become one of the most powerful figures in football, rising to the top of the European Club Association. Such moves do always bring responses, though, and the Independent has been told that there is growing unease within the European Union about the influence of states and private equity funds. That is where government backing could be sparked. Otherwise, another unintended consequence of sporting bodies repeatedly allowing certain takeovers is the growth of particular voting blocs. That's where some very new ideas could come in. The Premier League is currently divided along a few lines, with the greatest split coming over City’s charges. Saudi Arabia’s strategy to host World Cup 2030 Saudi Arabia have already been acutely aware of voting blocs ahead of that World Cup decision next year. They have made inroads into Europe through the inclusion of Greece in their bid. They have split north Africa through the inclusion of Egypt. There’s a growing theory in the game they could split the emotional South American bid by bringing in Uruguay. It is a push that is only going to grow in the next year, as Mohamed bin Salman wants to make the World Cup the centrepiece of ‘Vision 2030’. All of this is why one figure in the game says it is to be the “decade of Saudi Arabia”. This is another way the politics of the Gulf drives the game. It is not just the willingness to invest, but also the willingness for one-upmanship. There’s a sense it wasn’t a coincidence that Saudi Arabia made such expansion announcements and Qatar upped their attempt to buy Manchester United in the same week City were going to secure the treble. This is likely to be an indication of the next few years. It just could bring more change than anyone can imagine. Read More Pep Guardiola sets sights on becoming the greatest – and Abu Dhabi’s masterplan can make it a reality The lesson Qatar has learnt as Manchester United takeover bid enters final stages First golf, now football? Saudi Arabia’s grand plan and the 72 hours that changed everything Football rumours: Man United, Real Madrid and Chelsea fight for Kylian Mbappe Marcus Rashford brushes off critics and insists he is committed to England ‘Serial winners’ can help England finally celebrate silverware – Tyrone Mings
2023-06-14 14:22

Aya Healthcare Named to Fortune's 2023 List of Best Workplaces in Health Care
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2023-09-07 20:03

Heartbreaking story behind Tupac Shakur's hit single 'Dear Mama' that put him on the path to stardom
Tupac, a prominent rapper, poet, and actor, will be honored posthumously with a Hollywood Walk of Fame on June 7
2023-06-03 20:29

Scientists find what works best for depression – antidepressants or running
Scientists have found that a 16-week regimen of running has similar effect for mental health as antidepressants taken over the same period, an advance that may lead to better treatment guidelines for patients. Running, however, showed more benefits compared to antidepressants, whose effects on physical health slightly worsened over time, say researchers, including those from Vrije Universiteit (VU) in Amsterdam. Despite this, the yet-to-be peer-reviewed study presented at the 36th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress, found that adherence to running was lower than to medication. The first-of-its-kind study compared the effects of antidepressants with running exercises for anxiety, depression, and overall health in over 140 patients. The research found that while both have the same benefits for mental health, a 16-week course of running over the same period scored higher in terms of physical health improvement, whereas antidepressants lead to a slightly worse physical condition. Scientists, including Brenda Penninx from VU, also found that the drop-out rate was much higher in the group that initially chose exercise. In the study, patients were offered a choice of treatment of either SSRI antidepressants for 16 weeks, or group-based running therapy for 16 weeks. Forty-five of the participants chose antidepressants – SSRI Escitalopram for 16 weeks – while 96 participated in running that included aiming for two to three closely supervised 45-minute group sessions per week for the same period. Researchers say members of the group which chose antidepressants were slightly more depressed than the members of the group that chose to take running. “This study gave anxious and depressed people a real-life choice, medication or exercise. Interestingly, the majority opted for exercise, which led to the numbers in the running group being larger than in the medication group,” Dr Penninx said. Antidepressant treatment required patients to adhere to their prescribed medication, and was not found to directly impact daily behaviors. However, exercise was found to also address sedentary lifestyles often found in patients with depressive and anxiety disorders by encouraging them to go outside, set personal goals, improve their fitness, and participate in a group activity. But researchers also found that adherence to protocol was lower in the running group than in the antidepressant group, despite the initial preference for running over antidepressants. While at the end of the trial, about half the number of participants in both groups showed improvement in depression and anxiety, the running group also had improvements in physical health markers like blood pressure, heart function, and weight. The antidepressant group, on the other hand, showed slight deterioration in these metabolic markers, the study noted. “Antidepressants generally had a worse impact on body weight, heart rate variability, and blood pressure, whereas running therapy led to improved effects on general fitness and heart rate for instance,” Dr Penninx said. While antidepressants have been found to be safe and effective, working for most people, scientists call for extending the treatment arsenal by implementing exercise therapy. “Telling patients to go run is not enough. Changing physical activity behavior will require adequate supervision and encouragement as we did by implementing exercise therapy in a mental health care institution,” Dr Pennix added. Read More Postnatal depression drug ‘shows benefits five years on’ John Fetterman wants people to stop fussing about his use of captioning technology Mental health ‘top reason for children contacting Childline’ Largest study of centenarian blood reveals secrets to longevity Scientists map where 27 different types of love are felt in the body Biggest ever solar storm identified using ancient tree rings
2023-10-10 16:38

The MrBeast and Jacksepticeye drama explained
Two of the biggest names in YouTube have been feuding, with viewers surprised to see there was beef between MrBeast and Jacksepticeye. It comes following the circulation of a clip on social media, which saw Jacksepticeye asked questions about his fellow YouTuber. The footage shows the Irish 33-year-old hooked up to a lie detector, while giving his honest opinions on MrBeast – the biggest name on the video streaming platform. When asked about his content, Jacksepticeye said that MrBeast "ruined YouTube" because he made videos which were all about "views, money, and popularity." TommyInnit also appears in the video, and when he asked if MrBeast ruined YouTube, Jacksepticeye replied: “Yes. Because it became more about views, money, and popularity than it did about having fun. If he had fun doing those videos, they'd be longer. We'd see the fun." The clip quickly went viral, and MrBeast replied to him by taking issue with his comments. "So, I, 'ruined YouTube' because I didn’t buy a mansion and sports cars and instead reinvested my $ into making content/ocused on doing good and inspiring kids to help people?" he wrote on Twitter. "'If he had fun the videos would be longer.' What does that even mean, lol? You think I’d give up every hour of my life for 14 years if I didn’t have fun?” He went on to say: "This clip is insanely disrespectful IMO (in my opinion) and obviously there is so much I could say about his content but I’ll just take the punches and be the bigger man. Sigh." The disagreement understandably raised a lot of eyebrows among fans, but it now looks like the pair have managed to patch things up. They both posted on Twitter, with an exchange that seemed to suggest they’d been chatting privately and were no longer unhappy with each other. MrBeast posted a smiling emoji and said: “We messaged, we’re Gucci now”, followed by a smiling emoji. Jacksepticeye then replied to the message with a cowboy and thumbs-up emoji. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings
2023-09-04 22:08

TheKoreanSavage Reveals 'Cheat Code' Sniper Scope AR Warzone Loadout
TheKoreanSavage showcased how this unorthodox class setup is perhaps one that all players should be giving a try in Call of Duty: Warzone Season 5 Reloaded.
1970-01-01 08:00

China’s Central Bank Outlook Spurs Call for Monetary Action
The People’s Bank of China hinted Monday it will keep monetary policy supportive, prompting expectations it may cut
1970-01-01 08:00
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