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tabloidtoc · 4 years ago

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Globe, August 31

Cover: Prince William and Prince Harry seeking the truth about their mother Princess Diana’s death -- Diana exhumed again

Page 2: Up Front & Personal -- Sylvester Stallone, pregnant Lea Michele, Jason Priestley wears a mask while picking up a package

Page 3: Alessandra Ambrosio puts on shorts at the beach, Scott Baio riles up the crowd at a political rally in L.A., Sofia Richie strolls along the beach in Malibu with a wineglass in hand

Page 4: Music diva Mariah Carey is turning her back on her sister Alison who’s caught in a raging battle over revelations charging shocking sex abuse and devil worship -- while Mariah is out promoting her new bio due in stores next month her troubled older sis Alison is suing their mom Patricia for damages claiming she was forced to perform sex acts with strangers when she was as young as 10 during satanic gatherings that included ritual sacrifice

Page 5: Rachael Ray and her husband John Cusimano and their dog Bella narrowly escaped death when a huge blaze tore through her luxury upstate New York home, Lady Gaga’s sharp dance moves and killer manicure left fellow pop star Ariana Grande with a nasty scratch on her face as the pair rehearsed for a music video

Page 6: Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood were terrified when their youngest child Allie was stricken with killer COVID-19 and the girl’s chilling brush with death turned their world upside down -- it hit them hard and reminded them about the importance of health and family and taking precautions plus how precious life is, Antonio Banderas has been laid low by COVID-19 -- he took to Twitter on his 60th birthday to reveal he tested positive for the deadly disease and is keeping himself quarantined

Page 7: Nearly 4 years after her death Zsa Zsa Gabor is going on a farewell tour of Europe in a fancy dog carrier -- her last husband Prince Frederic von Anhalt plans to take the ashes of the icon to her favorite places in the Louis Vuitton pet case in which she carried her beloved dog Macho before burying her in her native Hungary -- Zsa Zsa’s former publicist Ed Lozzi slams her husband’s scheme saying she would have wanted to be buried beside her only child Francesca and sister Eva Gabor in Hollywood’s Westwood Cemetery

Page 8: Fearing she’s losing ground in her continuing custody battle with Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie is demanding the judge deciding the dispute be booted from the case -- Angie insists that Judge John W. Ouderkirk be ousted claiming he’s a business crony of a lawyer working for Brad but Brad’s fighting to keep the judge on board and he thinks Angie’s desperate and willing to do anything to trip him up because she’s backed up against a wall, Alyssa Milano claims her brush with COVID-19 has left her losing her hair -- she was struck by the dangerous disease back in April and spent time in a hospital and recently in a Twitter video she brushed her wet locks and pulled a large clump of separated strands

Page 9: Simon Cowell is facing a life of agonizing pain and possible paralysis after a horrific bike accident left him with a back broken in three places and a rod inserted in his spine -- he may be left with what’s known as failed back syndrome which is chronic back pain that remains even after successful surgery or even more chilling may lose control of his legs and arms if the rod doesn’t hold and the vertebrae collapse

Page 10: Demons do exist swears exorcist Bishop Plato Angelakis who for the first time reveals his terrifying battle with an evil fiend that possessed a granny-aged woman and gave her the strength to overpower four grown men

Page 12: Celebrity Buzz -- Billy Dee Williams out and about in L.A. (picture), there was a backstage battle between The Office star John Krasinski and producer Greg Daniels in season three of the smash comedy Daniels wigged out when John who played scruffy-haired sales guy Jim Halpert begged for a haircut in an attempt to launch a big-screen career by starring alongside George Clooney and Renee Zellweger in Leatherheads but the boss said no -- determined to nab the juicy role John recruited the show’s hairstylist and paid for a human hair wig and fooled the cast and crew, no funny business involved when it comes to Amy Schumer making sex appointments with husband Chris Fischer because without them you’re just roommates, Paris Jackson broke off her two-year relationship with Gabriel Glenn because she just couldn’t figure out who he was, Melissa Joan Hart is starring in Dear Christmas an upcoming Lifetime romance with her real-life teenage crush Jason Priestley who is playing a handsome firefighter who warms Melissa’s heart for the holidays, no baby talk is the rule for Marie Osmond’s husband Steve Craig who hates it when she calls him cutesie names

Page 13: Scruffy Jude Law in London (picture), Mindy Kaling out and about in a mask (picture), Goody Grace and Kate Beckinsale wear masks while shopping (picture), Heidi Klum is packing on the pounds during the COVID crisis confessing she can’t zip up her old clothes and doesn’t fit in her favorite jeans anymore

Page 14: Tiffany Haddish has lost 20 pounds since hooking up with boyfriend Common, Jennifer Lawrence sold her NYC money-pit apartment for $9.9 million which she bought in 2016 for $15.6 million but at least now she can stop paying the ritzy building’s ridiculously steep $5700 monthly fees and the $100,000 cost for taxes and insurance and upkeep, Fashion Verdict -- Tina Fey 3/10, Sarah Paulson 7/10, Emily Blunt 1/10, Aubrey Plaza 8/10, Olivia Wilde 2/10

Page 16: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has topped a list of Hollywood’s highest paid actor hauling in a hefty $87.5 million this year followed by Ryan Reynolds and Mark Wahlberg and Ben Affleck and Vin Diesel at $54 million, Lisa Marie Presley’s future looks grim as her liver problems have roared back and she faces death if the vital organ fails -- she’s been battling liver ailments and an abdominal muscle tear for some time forcing her to seek treatment in the days before the heartbreaking suicide of her son Ben Keough

Page 17: The late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin’s daughter Bindi Irwin has made it official that she’s pregnant, scores more women have come forward to accuse porn star Ron Jeremy of rape and sexual assault dating as far back as two decades just a few weeks after he pled not guilty to sex offenses against for West Coast women

Page 19: 10 Things You Don’t Know About Alex Winter, for Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo the show is all about the Benjamins saying she made a decision to make money and not chase creative acting roles and for her a healthy home life was more important than career, thugs robbed Alanis Morissette at gunpoint and nearly grabbed all her work for her 1995 hit album Jagged Little Pill

Page 20: True Crime

Page 23: Scandal-savaged Ellen DeGeneres wants to put her woes on pause and pamper herself with a morale-boosting plastic surgery blitz -- she’s been rocked by sinking ratings and allegations of a toxic work culture and the strain has made an ugly impact and it shows in the bags under her eyes and the saggy cheeks and jaw and she’s breaking out and her skin looks blotchy from all the stress she’s been under and even with makeup on she looks haggard, grieving mom Melissa Etheridge admits she steeled herself for the possible death of her drug-addled son Beckett

Page 24: Cover Story -- new Princess Diana death probe -- Prince William and Prince Harry have secretly arranged for the body of their late mother to be exhumed for a second time and subjected to another autopsy in a desperate last-ditch bid to learn the truth about her death in Paris 23 years ago -- the brothers suspect Diana’s death may have been ordered by the same people who forced Harry’s wife Meghan Markle to flee Britain -- William is worried his wife Duchess Kate Middleton may be in danger too

Page 26: Health Report -- miracle drug slams brakes on MS

Page 33: Debra Messing dropped from a size eight to a twiggy two while filming Will & Grace and says the extreme slim-down harmed her health

Page 38: Real Life -- Victoria Price of WFLA in Tampa gushed with appreciation after an eagle-eyed viewer pointed out a bump on her neck that turned out to be a deadly thyroid cancer

Page 44: Straight Talk -- Earth to Luann de Lesseps: quit being a boozy floozy

Page 45: Tiger Woods is set to marry Erica Herman if she signs an ironclad prenup to protect his $800 million fortune -- Tiger has agreed to wed Erica but he’s still gun-shy after shelling out a record $750 million to divorce first wife Elin Nordegren after he was caught in a sex addiction scandal

Page 47: Hollywood Flashback -- Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic, Bizarre But True

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dimensionsunited · 6 years ago

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FEBRUARY 2019 DIMENSIONS ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULES & REVIEW

Members may earn 3 points each (up to 6 points) for writing, by the end of February 28 KST:

A solo para of 400+ words based on their monthly schedule (does not count toward your monthly total).

A thread of six posts (three per participant, including the starter) based on their monthly schedule.

Threads do not have to take place directly during an important date listed on the schedule, but must be related to what the muse is mentioned to be doing in the paragraph explaining their schedule/the company’s schedule for the month and/or their thoughts on the mentioned activities or lack thereof.

These schedules may be updated throughout the month if new information needs to be added.

Overall Company

The drama and possible legal problems brought to Dimensions this month in response to Gal.actic’s comeback aren’t a good sign, but any publicity is good publicity and Dimensions has gotten much worse publicity in the past. There’s currently no intent to cut back on the plans already presented to the investors for the year, so the company will be going forward with a full company Summer Package, including video and picture content which all idols under the company will shoot the first company photo shoot for this month.

Important dates:

February 4-6: Artists free from schedules for Seollal.

February 23: Day one of full company photo shoot at an indoor water park.

February 24: Day two of full company photo shoot at an indoor water park.

Dimensions Soloist 1

After a month that was mostly a break in January, she’sback to work and preparing for her very quickly approaching Seoul concert and the following world tour in late spring. She’s also in the studio to record for some songs, review some demos, and work with producers on a comeback for next month. She’ll be attending a radio show guesting with the company’s other soloist as well.

Important dates:

February 18: Guesting on Kiss The Radio radio show with Dimensions Soloist 2.

Dimensions Soloist 2

His busking last month earned some buzz and even some new fans, so now Dimensions is finalizing the picks for the track list of his next album, and he’ll be spending some time in the studio working on that as well as being in and out of meetings on his anticipated first solo concert in a few months. He’ll be attending a radio show guesting with the company’s other soloist as well.

Important dates:

February 18: Guesting on Kiss The Radio radio show with Dimensions Soloist 1.

Gal.actic

The comeback seems to be going incredibly well as the month starts, and the single even rises to Gal.actic’s highest weekly digital peak ever in its second week of release thanks to the right promotion on Dimensions’ part for once, but legal action from a men’s group in the second week of the month will bring the momentum to a halt (keep an eye out on the Exclusive blog for more details!) and brings about Dimensions removing them from a planned army performance and a few other small schedules to avoid further backlash, though they’ll go forward with all music show promotions through March 1.

Important dates:

February 1: Filming for Idol Room episode (airing February 12) + episode teaser VLive livestream following filming.

February 2: Filming for After School Club episode (airing February 19.)

February 3: Guesting on Arirang Radio Sound K radio show.

February 8: Fansign in Gangnam, Seoul.

February 10: Filming of Valentine’s Day vlog style video for Youtube preparing gifts for fans.

February 16: Fansign in Incheon.

Alien

Their comeback is next month, and Alien will film their music video in the first half of the month. To add to their planned Western push with this comeback, they’ll be back in the studio at the end of the month at Dimensions’ order to record a fully English version of the title track that will be released after their album. Ahead of their comeback, Alien has also been chosen as new brand models for TONYMOLY’s lip tints and will be filming a CF and doing a promotional photo shoot, both of which will release on Valentine’s Day. They’ll show a different side of the members that isn’t usually shown through their music and promotions. Each member is assigned a shade of lip tint as follows:

Leader/main rapper: "Red Hot”

Vocal/rapper: “Pink Coaster”

Main vocal: “Oh My Rose”

Lead vocal: "Chili Pepper”

Main dancer/lead vocal: "Spicy Ruby”

Maknae/lead rapper/lead dancer: "Baby Coral”

Important dates:

February 2: Tony Moly Lip Tint CF filming.

February 14: MV filming day one.

February 15: MV filming day two.

MARS

“Cactus” promotions wrap on the first day of the month. Promotions were mildly successful, although there was some brewing backlash online about the styling for the era, which is yet to be determined as a negative or a positive for the new stylists on MARS’ team. Most of this month has been set aside to prepare for their fanmeeting (filming VCRs, rehearsing, etc.) that will be at the beginning of March and two yet to be announced global fanmeeting dates that will be testing the waters for a world tour later in the year. The group will be doing a scheduled series of group and solo VLives this month where they’ll drop different small teasers for their upcoming fanmeeting, interact with fans, and play some group games during the two group VLives. All of the VLives will be supervised by managers. They’ll also be dropping by the dance studio of the choreographers for “Cactus” to help teach a class the choreography. The two main dancers will be assigned to take the lead with the choreographers, but the other members will lend a hand as well. A special dance practice video (dressed in casualwear instead of the infamous hot pants) will be filmed at the studio afterwards to be uploaded online.

Important dates:

February 1: End of “Cactus” promotions.

February 2: Group VLive.

February 7: [Leader, main dancer, lead vocal] VLive.

February 11: [Main vocal 1] VLive.

February 14: [Main vocal 2] VLive.

February 15: Special guests teachers at dance studio.

February 18: [Main rapper, lead dancer] VLive.

February 21: [Lead rapper, vocal] VLive.

February 25: [Maknae, main dancer, vocal] VLive.

February 28: Group VLive.

7ROPHY

They’re continuing to film their short weekly reality show for Youtube, but this month will switch the focus to more full group interactions and will give the fans a peak behind the scenes during dance rehearsals and studio time in the final preparations for the comeback next month. Most of the episodes filmed this month will be released after the comeback. 7ROPHY will also be asked, along with Lucid, last minute to fill in for Gal.actic’s cancelled performance for the army. 7ROPHY doesn’t have the strongest male fan base after their concept change, so they might not be the most popular group performing with the given audience, but it’s a good opportunity for publicity.

Important dates:

February 18: Performance in special show for the army alongside BEE, Lipstick, Lucid, Silhouette, and Fuse (performing: Hobgoblin, Black Dress, and Latata + a cover of “Tell Me”)

Unity

A few fan signs dot the end of “Simon Says” promotions, after which things kick into full gear behind the scenes for Unity’s upcoming concerts which will be taking place at Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul during the second to last week of March. They’ll be in heavy rehearsal mode, especially at the end of the month, and will be doing photo shoots for concert promotion pictures.

Important dates:

February 8: Fansign in Incheon.

February 11: Fansign in Busan.

February 15: End of “Simon Says” promotions.

Lucid

In the first few days of the month while they’re in Seoul, Lucid will stop in the recording studio to record a cover of “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction that they’ll film a low-budget music video for while they’re in Paris. During the Europe leg of the tour, they’ll get to perform the solo cover stages they prepared (reminder: must be low production value — no extravagant concepts or stage decorations). They’ll still get Seollal off, but will be spending it in England. 7ROPHY and Lucid will be tapped this month last minute to fill in for Gal.actic’s cancelled performance for the army. The performance will be especially fruitful for Lucid, who will start to trend among male fan communities following videos of the performance being uploaded online.

Important dates:

February 3: “Fly High” tour concert at ULU Live in London, England.

February 7: “Fly High” tour concert at Lao Lisbo ao Vivio in Lisbon, Portugal.

February 8: “Fly High” tour concert at Sala Riviera in Madrid, Spain.

February 10: “Fly High” tour concert at Melkweg in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

February 11: “Fly High” tour concert at Columbia Theater in Berlin, Germany.

February 12: “Fly High” tour concert at Palladium in Warsaw, Poland.

February 14: “Fly High” tour concert at La Trianon in Paris, France.

February 16: Release of “Glass Bead” & Season of Glass mini-album showcase, promotions continue through March 16.

February 18: Performance in special show for the army alongside BEE, Lipstick, 7ROPHY, Silhouette, and Fuse (performing: Glass Bead and White + covers of “Like Ooh-Ahh” and “Lucky Strike”)

February 20: Fansign in Yeouido, Seoul.

February 26: Fansign in Mapo, Seoul.

#fmdschedule #queued post

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topfygad · 5 years ago

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Unknown treks: 10 off the beaten trail adventures

These unknown treks can be proper up your path, from crossing deserts to polar expeditions.

I spent ten years residing in London, driving the crowded tube to work, preventing for area with these round me and standing in queues at bus stops, supermarkets, wherever actually – I am British in any case.

Naturally, this impressed daydreams of escaping all of it and operating off to the wilderness with solely my backpack, tent, tenting range and a handful of freeze-dried meals.

About twice a yr I managed to briefly abscond the confines of London, often fleeing to the mountains of Norway, Austria or Scotland. Since we launched Atlas & Boots, I’ve found loads of unknown treks the world over the, however I nonetheless whereas away hours daydreaming of getting even additional off the grid.

If you happen to’re like me and yearn for true wilderness, nature and seclusion, these unknown treks can be proper up your path. Some might be trodden solo whereas others are greatest undertaken with help.

In both case, I’ve advised operators that may coordinate the logistics of accessing these distant areas, leaving you to benefit from the breathtaking surroundings.

1. Higher Mustang Trek, Nepal

Distance: 185km (115mi) Period: 12-14 days

Dreamstime The Higher Mustang is considered one of Nepal’s extra unknown treks

Point out trekking in Nepal or the Himalayas and lots of instantly consider Everest base camp and the Annapurna basin. Nevertheless, for a conventional and genuine style of Nepalese and Tibetan tradition think about the ‘Forbidden’ Kingdom of Mustang.

Closed to foreigners till 1992, Mustang is just now starting to divulge heart’s contents to trekkers and western tourism. The path primarily follows an historic salt buying and selling route between Tibet and India, exploiting the bottom move by means of the Himalayas, west of Sikkim in India.

Alongside the path there are alternatives to go to among the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Nepal in addition to the mysterious Kali Gandaki caves. Extra info: Lively Adventures

2. Lut Desert Trek, Iran

Distance: 200km (125mi) Period: 10 days

Hadi Karimi/CC by 2.0 The lunar-esque panorama of the Lut

Observe within the footsteps of Thesiger and Marco Polo and cross one of many hottest locations on Earth. In accordance with NASA, a floor temperature of 70.7 °C (159°F) was recorded within the lowest a part of the Lut Desert in 2005. So, not for the fainthearted by any means.

The route passes by means of lunar-esque landscapes, symmetrical star dune formations, and a cornucopia of geological phenomena together with salt plains, meteorite fields and large pure sand castles known as kaluts. A bucket checklist trek if ever there was one.

Extra info: Secret Compass

3. Lake Baikal Trek, Russia

Distance: 50km (31mi) Period: Three days

Sergey Gabdurakhmanov/ CC by 2.0 Lake Baikal in southern Siberia, Russia

With extra water than all of the North American Nice Lakes mixed, Baikal is the the world’s largest freshwater lake by quantity. Observe this traditional path by means of the western shore of the lake for unparalleled views of roughly 20% of the world’s unfrozen floor contemporary water.

At instances the path is simply inches from the waterline; at others it climbs 767m (2,500ft) above the lake to the summit of Mount Listvyanka. The sheer remoteness of southern Siberia makes this space one of many least trekked on the planet. That is for actual explorers.

Extra info: Baikal Journey

4. Angelus Circuit, New Zealand

Distance: 39km (24mi) Period: 2-Three days

Dreamstime NZ’s South Island accounts for only a quarter of the nation’s inhabitants

New Zealand’s distant and rugged South Island has lengthy been on my trekking bucket checklist. Regardless of being the bigger of New Zealand’s foremost islands, it solely accounts for 1 / 4 of the nation’s inhabitants which makes for a distant and unspoilt vacation spot.

The Angelus Circuit begins at a village known as Saint Arnaud on the sting of Lake Rotoiti, working its approach by means of a wilderness of beech forests, grand lakes and jagged alpine ridges. Regardless of the dramatic terrain, the path itself is comparatively mild and has mountain huts accessible alongside the best way, in addition to tenting choices.

Extra info: Lively Adventures

5. Arctic Circle Path, Greenland

Distance: 165km (103mi) Period: 9-11 days

Atlas & Boots Innajuattoq Lake on the Arctic Circle Path

Trekking the Arctic Circle Path in Greenland had lengthy been a dream of mine. A dream I just lately got here tantalisingly near fulfilling however for a freak pure occasion. I’ve vowed to return and full it someday.

Greenland is the world’s largest non-continental island but solely has a inhabitants of round 57,000, making it the least densely-populated territory on Earth. The path follows a course by means of an space referred to as the “land of 100 lakes”.

It is without doubt one of the most distant and unknown treks on this planet with the newest estimates suggesting that solely round 1,500 individuals make the expedition yearly. Because the names suggests, the Arctic Circle Path lies completely throughout the Arctic Circle, between 40-50km to the north of the main circle of latitude at 66° 33’ 39”.

Extra info: learn our article on trekking the Arctic Circle Path

6. Sarek Nationwide Park, Sweden

Distance: 100km (63mi) Period: 10 days

Dreamstime Sweden’s Lapland is a survivalist’s dream

Sarek in Sweden’s Lapland is a survivalist’s dream. It’s essential be the adventurous kind simply to make it out right here as there aren’t any marked trails, cabins or facilities that you could be discover elsewhere.

The probabilities are limitless however suggestion is to trek from Sitoalvsbron to Kvikkjokk through the huge Rapadalen Valley taking in glaciers, alpine peaks, the wild Rapaatno River and limitless Arctic wildlife alongside the best way. That is Europe’s final nice wilderness so the going is sluggish and sometimes arduous. Simply thoughts the bears.

Extra info: Nature Travels

7. Tigray Area, Ethiopia

Distance: 15km (9mi) Period: 1-2 days

Atlas & Boots On our technique to Maryam Korkor in Tigray

Tigray is situated within the northern a part of Ethiopia, a area with over 120 rock-hewn church buildings. To entry these church buildings one should ascend the purple sandstone ridges of the considerably labyrinthine mountain system of Tigray.

The problem of this trek just isn’t essentially the distances lined, however the near-vertical scrambles to realize entry to the distant cliff-side church buildings. The one technique to entry this space is by neighborhood trekking packages that present native guides and clergymen to prepared the ground.

Extra info: learn our article on climbing in Tigray

8. Mount Cameroon, Cameroon

Distance: 38km (24mi) Period: Three days

Initsogan/CC by 2.0 Mount Cameroon is commonly ignored

Too typically ignored for the enduring and freestanding Mount Kilimanjaro to the east, West Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Cameroon, has a lot to supply. In a single path are uninterrupted views throughout the Atlantic Ocean and within the different, the plains of central Africa.

It’s a shorter and fewer strenuous trek than the upper mountains of East Africa and has the additional advantage of ending on the charming seaside city of Limbe.

If you happen to’re feeling a bit extra adventurous then each February there’s the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope footrace, the place members full the return journey in simply 4.5 hours!

Extra info: Mount Cameroon Tour

9. Tune Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan

Distance: 36km (27mi) Period: 3-Four days

Peretz Partensky/CC by 2.0 Kyrgyzstan is residence to a number of unknown treks

Kyrgyzstan’s uncared for landscapes are a dream for DIY adventurers and people in search of solitude and escape. Dominated by an alpine lake sitting at 3,016 meters (9,895ft), the lake’s water can change color straight away because the solar peaks excessive above and sinks low behind the craggy peaks and wide-open landscapes.

Regardless of the world’s inaccessibility, there are many choices for walkers with yurt stays and multi-day hikes mixed with horse treks accessible. Crystal-clear however deeply chilly nights present glorious stargazing alternatives on these distant trails.

Extra info: Silk Highway Discover

10. K2 Base Camp Trek, Pakistan

Distance: 160km (100mi) Period: 14 days

Atlas & Boots K2 seen from Concordia camp

The K2 base camp trek by means of the mighty Karakoram mountains of Pakistan is without doubt one of the world’s most interesting high-altitude treks. Pakistan has long-been touted as tourism’s ‘subsequent large factor’, however alarming headlines have typically discredited these predictions.

Not too long ago, situations have improved and vacationer numbers have began to climb, albeit modestly. After I accomplished the trek in September 2019 as one of many final trekking events of the yr, only one,300 vacationers had entered the world all season.

Pakistan is residence to a number of superb and nonetheless largely unknown treks. The very best of which is the journey to K2, the second highest mountain on Earth. At 8,611m (28,251ft) K2 can also be considered one of simply 14 eight-thousanders and a member of the seven second summits.

Extra info: learn our article on the K2 base camp trek

Lead picture: Dreamstime

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rickhorrow · 6 years ago

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15+5+5 To Watch 52719

RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 27, 2019 with Jacob Aere

1. The French Open is underway, and Roland Garros has gotten some work done. Immediately after last year’s tournament, Court Philippe-Chatrier, one of tennis’ most storied arenas, was stripped to its foundation. Over 80% of the existing center court was destroyed to rebuild the stands and create better fan and media experience. In 2019, Roland Garros is also expanding its footprint from 850 acres to 1,250 acres, and debuts a new set of courts, including a 5,000-seat “greenhouse” arena, named Court Simonne-Mathieu after France’s best female player of the 1930s. In 2020, a retractable roof will be put on Chatrier leading to night sessions at the French Open for the first time in 2021 – a move that is expected to generate 100,000-150,000 more ticket sales over the tournament fortnight. In 2024, the site will host the tennis competition at the Summer Olympics. The need for a roof has long been a factor in the French Open’s profitability and product consistency. The 2016 tournament, for example, was dubbed the “Drench Open” after days of play, and international broadcasting hours, were lost to rain.

2. As Roland Garros expands its footprint, it has also embarked on an ambitious plan toexpand its brand. According to Tennis magazine, “In an initiative reminiscent of France’s quest to keep its language alive, the French Tennis Federation is working to keep its surface, la terre battue, at the forefront of the sport.” To that end, the newly-conceived Roland Garros will emphasize its status as the mecca of clay, and work to make its name synonymous with the surface. In 2017, the federation began stamping prominent clay court facilities around the world as official “Roland Garros” clubs, including sponsoring competitions at the centers. In China, tennis’ largest emerging market, the French Open also signed a deal with a Chinese broadcaster in 2017, and stamped a club in the city of Nanchang, which has 11 clay courts, with its Roland Garros label. This year, the Parisian tournament also signed a sponsorship deal with Rolex, which has helped Wimbledon turn itself into a luxury brand over the last 40 years. Look for a similar effort on Roland Garros’ behalf in the future.

3. The NBA has been named the most popular sports league in China in a recent survey undertaken by Ampere Analysis. According to SportsPro, the English Premier League and Uefa Champions League ranked second and third respectively, in the report that conducted research with Chinese internet users. Alexios Dimitropoulos, senior analyst at Ampere, said: “In China, the NBA already boasts one of the country’s largest television rights contracts and that’s why the competition tours China and plays league matches locally.” Chinese soccer’s top flight, the Chinese Super League (CSL), did not make the list’s top ten even though attendances at its fixtures continue to break the 40,000 mark. The survey also showed that Chinese sports fans are younger than the national average with around 65% of sports fans aged 44 or younger. Following the NBA and Premier League and Champions League, the top ten most popular sports leagues were: the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, La Liga, Serie A,World Table Tennis Championships, Uefa European Championships, and the Fiba Basketball World Cup. Not surprisingly, Ampere conducted similar research in 20 markets and China was the only one where table tennis appeared in the top ten most popular sports.

4. The Padres and Diamondbacks have agreed to play a series in Mexico City in the summerof 2020. The Padres last played in Mexico in May 2018; it was a three-game series against the Dodgers in Monterrey. According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the 2020 series in Mexico City is "expected to be played at El Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu." This year’s international calendar included two MLB series in Monterrey: Cardinals-Reds in April and Astros-Angels earlier in May. In addition to Mexico, the MLB has played games in Australia, Japan, and Puerto Rico ahead of next month's Yankees-Red Sox London Series, which will mark the sport's first regular-season contests in Europe. Next year's London Series will feature the Cubs and the Cardinals, leading the Chicago Sun-Times’ Rick Morrissey to wonder, "Why would Major League Baseball waste a perfectly good Cubs-Cardinals series on a country that cares for the game about as much as it cares for the way we spell color, labor and humor?" You could have made the same argument for the NFL, but more than a decade later, that league’s London series has done nothing but grow. MLB, take note.

5. The Big Ten conference recorded nearly $759 million in revenue for the 2018 financial year. This figure represents a year-on-year revenue increase of 48% for the Big Ten and exceeds any comparable annual figure amongst its NCAA rivals. A major factor is this boosted revenue is Big Ten’s new television rights deals which resulted in payments of around $54 million to the 12 longest-standing schools of the conference’s 14 teams. Maryland and Rutgers received smaller revenue share amounts but this was topped up with loans from Big Ten against future revenue shares. Compared to other NCAA athletic conferences, the Big Ten is way ahead in terms of revenue. The SEC reported revenues of around $660 million for 2018, with an average of $43.7 million afforded to each of its 13 member schools. The Big 12’s revenues didn’t even reach half the value that the Big Ten generated, with the conference securing $374 million for 2018. TV rights remain king, as shown by the Big 10 data and the recent announcement that Conference USA has made a 4-year deal with the NFL Network for a 10-game package of C-USA football games.

6. Indy 500 has a new broadcast partner: NBC. Viewership for the crown jewel of American racing events has been on a steady decline since 2015, but all of that may change with a new partnership. All IndyCar broadcasts will now be shown on NBC networks and will cover the racing series with improved marketing and a bigger approach to race-day coverage. According to Indianapolis Business Journal, the network has run dozens of IndyCar ads since March — many for the Indy 500 – and TV ratings have been up. IndyCar ads have been running during other major sporting events such as the Kentucky derby and the NHL Playoffs with a new approach to grab some more casual viewers. Thank to the new partnership, viewership is up 21% for the first four races. Under NBC’s contract, eight IndyCar races will be on broadcast TV this season, up from five last year on ABC. Indy has started to also market to a younger demographic as the sport owns one of the oldest audiences across all major us-sports; to date, its has been paying dividends.

7. The 2019 NBA playoffs have been lacking in action and ratings. According to The Atlantic, this year’s playoffs started on April 13 and won’t end until sometime in June making it roughly as long as Major League Baseball and the National Football League's playoffs, COMBINED. Through the first two weeks of the 2019 postseason, the rating numbers were down by 18 percent. One reason for the decline is the absence of now Laker, Lebron James, who missed the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. However, the boost of second round ratings, which were the highest TV numbers since 2012, indicate that fans are still compelled to tune in to more competitive matchups. Another issue with extended playoffs is the stress and fatigue it puts on the players: the Golden State Warriors won their last series against the Portland Trail Blazers without Kevin Durant due to injury. Although adding extra games may draw in more money for the league, the long term effects of losing fans to “boring” playoffs may seriously hurt. The NBA may need to start looking into reverting to the previous 5 game format for first round basketball playoffs to help quell the extensive playoffs or potentially give a bye-round to the top ranked teams in each division.

8. The NHL Stanley Cup is here and it has ignited a rivalry from the iconic mockumentary The Office. Jim and Pam are at each others necks over hockey – well at least the actors John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer who play the characters in the show. Krasinski is a Bostonian and huge Bruins fan while Fischer is from Fort Wayne, Indiana yet is an avid fan of the St. Louis Blues. The Blues clinched their spot in the Stanley Cup Final after a Game 6 win over the San Jose Sharks, which means they’ll face the Boston Bruins in a rematch of the 1970 series where the Bruins swept their opponents on the back of Bobby Orr. According to USA Today, NBC Boston’s Twitter even caught word of the two actors exchanging tweets at one another over the upcoming series. The NHL playoffs have been exciting and by engaging A-list celebrities, the sport may gain a few new fans this Stanley Cup.

9. The lack of Tiger Woods dominating at the PGA Championship hurts TV ratings. Even though Brooks Koepka has been sensational, all that the mass media seems to want is the man who has overcome numerous odds to put himself back at the top among other big names. According to Forbes, Tiger Woods sealed the first-place finish at the Augusta National last month with his career earnings now sitting over $1.5 billion thanks to 15 major championships and 5 Masters wins. The problem is that Koepka doesn’t command the superstar personality that drove in the best ratings for any morning golf telecast in 34 years after Tiger won Augusta. Koepka doesn’t soak in the limelight quite like Woods; something other leagues like the MLB has seen with their superstar Mike Trout. For now, Koepka has taken home another crown at the PGA Championship while the ratings for the event were among the lowest in the past 25 years; even second round playoff basketball performed better than the game on the green.

10. The Blues win the West to create a rematch 49 years in the making for the NHL. The St. Louis Blues are marching into the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in decades and have revived expectations for the team in the midwest. The Blues were one of the bottom teams in the NHL as of January 3 and now they are in the Stanley Cup Finals. According to The Star, the turnaround came after Craig Berube replaced Mike Yeo as coach in November and Binnington took over as the starting goaltender in January. St. Louis has went 0-12 in its three previous Stanley Cup appearances. The last time these two teams met in the Stanley Cup, the Blues dropped the series 0-4 with an enshired goal from a flying Bobby Orr that is still one of the greatest hockey pictures of all time. The Bruins are the likely favorite to win the cup after having come in second overall in the regular season. The St. Louis Blues are the oldest active team to never have a Stanley Cup win and in a year where the improbable has happened for a last place team entering 2019, a win against the Bruins could seal one of the greatest turnarounds of all time.

11. UEFA aims to change perceptions of women’s soccer with new marketing and recruitment strategies. The ‘Time for Action’ strategy will invest in programmes from grassroots to professional level and will take an aim to change the perception of women’s soccer across the globe. UEFA also hopes to double the reach and value of the Women’s Champions League and Women’s European Championship, as well as double the number of females on all UEFA bodies by 2024 to 2.5 million. According to Sports Pro, UEFA has been making concerted efforts to improve the women’s game in recent years, including boosting its funding for the women’s soccer development program by 50 percent as of 2020. With the Women’s World Cup set to kick off on June 7, it is a perfect time to announce a long overdue interest in the women’s side of soccer.

12. NBA Playoffs help to display big tech and provide a glimpse into the future of sports in Seattle. Seattle is getting an NHL franchise and a high-tech arena in 2021. According to GeekWire, tech executives from companies based in the Pacific Northwest have been attending private VIP events for potential season ticket holders. Meanwhile, during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals at Oracle Arena, Google displayed its voice assistant to help “turn down the lights,” play music, and provide stats for the Golden State Warriors. After the game, all 19,596 fans walked away with a free Google Home Mini device. At $1 million, it was hailed as “the largest and most valuable giveaway of a Google product at a live sporting event in history.” Silicon Valley plays a big role in the Warriors’ success as players like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Jonas Jerebko all noted the region’s forward thinking as a partial reason they chose to play with the team; they all have investments in a range of tech ventures. Looking at the success of the Warriors, the new NHL team in Seattle would provide an opportunity for the region’s tech companies, like Amazon and Microsoft, to further plunge into sports.

13. Women’s World Cup tickets have have a major hiccup. According to The Washington Post, many fans who purchased seats were unaware of the fact that their seats were grouped in different rows. Upset fans rushed FIFA’s website to double-check their seats and observers criticized how world soccer’s governing body treats the women’s side of the sport. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of fans who purchased multiple World Cup tickets will not be able to sit with the other members of their groups, and it’s not clear if FIFA knows how many ticket orders are affected. To try and cover up the blunder, a tweet from the Women’s World Cup account on Monday said that “a message indicating not all seats would be located next to each other did appear” before fans purchased tickets online. For any families with young children, the organizations said it would attempt to help families sit together. Although FIFA says that the situation only affects 1% of fans, international soccer aficionados may have to brace for a slight disruption to their World Cup plans.

14. The NFL draft is headed to Cleveland in 2021 and Kansas City in 2023. In conjunction with the relocation of the Oakland Raiders and opening of their new stadium, the 2020 draft was awarded to Las Vega. Now, the Browns will be celebrating their 75th anniversary with the draft events taking place around FirstEnergy Stadium in 2021. According to ESPN, the Kansas City Chiefs plan to host the draft near Union Station and the National World War I Museum and Memorial for their draft in 2023. Since last holding the draft in the traditional New York location in 2014, the NFL has taken the event on the road to five different cities. The league still has not moved on bids for the 2022 draft, saying about 20 cities are interested in hosting that year. This year’s draft in Nashville, Tennessee had more than 600,000 people attend over the three days which marks a dramatic increase from 250,000 in Arlington the year prior.

15. NASCAR acquires ISC for $2B with a dozen more tracks. NASCAR announced the $2 billion purchase of International Speedway Corp. which will give it control of key racetracks and set itself up for sweeping changes that could save America’s popular racing series which has been in decline for several years. This deal should close by year’s end. ISC is one of two major facilities companies that host NASCAR races, along with Speedway Motorsports Inc. According to AP News, NASCAR gaining control of a dozen tracks would seemingly make it easier for the racing league to alter its schedule, including the possibility of hosting fewer events in order to maximize its profit. The parent company of Speedway Motorsports made an offer last month to acquire all its outstanding common stock, which would privatize SMI and make it better positioned for an anticipated NASCAR overhaul. Many big sponsors have left NASCAR in recent years — Cup Series title sponsor Monster Energy is in the final year of its deal — and television ratings hit all-time lows at 26 events last season. Because NASCAR is a private company it won't have to publicly report attendance revenue and other financials allowing the company more leeway in their attempt to rebuild the iconic racing series.

Tech Top Five

1. OTT platform FuboTV and FanDuel form a sports wagering partnership in New Jersey. According to Deadline, the deal makes FanDuel the exclusive sportsbook, online casino, exclusive advertiser, and horse racing and daily fantasy sports partner of the live TV streaming service. It will also expand FuboTV’s sports offering for consumers when FanDuel’s betting data is integrated on the Fubo platform. Initially, odds and other gambling information will only be added to the mix in New Jersey, though general sports data will be integrated more broadly afterward. Additionally the TVG and TVG2 horse racing networks affiliated with FanDuel will be available to Fubo subscribers nationwide, joining the 90-plus channels in the $55-a-month base package. TVG2 will be on the Sports Plus tier, which brings more than 20 additional channels for an extra $9 a month. This is huge as it is the first real push for a OTT sports platform to incorporate sports wagering into its properties and could open the floodgates for others to follow suit.

2. UC Irvine esports will star on an ESPN 2 series. UCI’s esports organization is the focus of a four-part documentary series called Good Game: UC Irvine. The mini series follows UCI’s varsity computer gaming team in the lead-up to their national title defense in the 2019 League of Legends College Championship. According to UCI News, the team competed in the Riot Games LCS Battle Arena in west Los Angeles May 23-26. The footage is honest: film crews accompanied UCI Anteater video gamers studying, practicing and working with team member support staff, and they even followed players into their dorms and families’ homes. The 2018-2019 collegiate championship featured more than 350 university teams competing for a million dollars in scholarship money from LoL developer Riot Games. By documenting esports on television it helps to introduce different demographics to competitive gaming.

3. The NHL will air virtual reality highlights of the Stanley Cup. The National Hockey League has partnered with NextVR to offer fans free, on-demand virtual reality game highlights of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues. According to Sports Pro, fans will be able to access highlights by using the NextVR app through a dedicated Stanley Cup Final channel. Already, NextVR has partnered with the NHL to bring VR highlights of the NHL All-Star Game and Stanley Cup playoffs this year. Now, NextVR will comes to the Stanley Cup with the added bonus of the ‘Goalie Experience’ which will puts fans in the skates of goalkeepers on the ice, allowing them to see and experience through the eyes of NHL stars during a game. By offering more ways to experience a NHL game, the league will be able to attract a more diverse array of fans – especially younger demographics who tend prefer shorter, engaging videos.

4. Jack in the Box meets esports via players on the Dallas Fuel. According to The Drum, Big-headed Jack is now an animated character in a web series in support of the esports team Dallas Fuel. To bring the organization and team closer to its players, a six-part animated web series called ‘Fuel-House’ places the esports in a 90s sitcom-style world, introducing the characters as they deal with living in the same house with Jack. Each episode features specific themes related to the Dallas Fuel team, gaming and pop culture, aimed to relate to fans. New episodes drop each Sunday on multiple digital and social platforms like Gamespot, Reddit and Xbox. The web series was timed to coincide with the first Overwatch League stage held outside of its traditional home in Burbank, California where Jack in the Box brought Fuel House to the event with an interactive experience for fans. Jack in the Box is trying to leverage itself as a forward-thinking sponsor who is looking to make a name for itself in the rapidly growing marketing sector of esports.

5. Air Jordan drops its latest look in the videogame ‘Fortnite.’ In the past Fortnite has teamed up to collaborate with with Avengers: Endgame and John Wick. Now, ahead of the NBA Finals, basketball will take center court on the game that stormed the world nearly two years ago. According to Engadget, Nike will promote the Jordan brand via in-game items, centering on the classic Air Jordan 1. Unlike the recent movie-themed collaborations, Fortnite x Jordan won't focus on the game's main fight-to-the-death mechanics. Instead, Epic Games has launched a new Creative "Downtown Drop" world which requires players to "launch off massive jumps, grind down city streets and collect coins to win." Even though the Toronto Raptors won the Eastern Conference Finals, the Jordan brand will be the winner of the NBA in one of the world's most popular video games.

POS Top Five

1. One of the most charitable figures in the NFL is retiring. According to ESPN, Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive end Chris Long is calling it quits as the reigning Walter Payton Man of the Year after 11 years on the field. Long was a part of two Super Bowl championship teams in back-to-back seasons – with the New England Patriots in 2016 and then the Eagles in 2017. The son of NFL legend Howie Long will be defined by the way he used his NFL platform to maximize his humanitarian efforts. Through his organization, Waterboys, he has helped provide more than 200,000 people with clean water in Africa, building close to 60 water wells in Tanzania. Additionally, Long donated his entire 2017 salary to educational efforts in Virginia and a quarter of his 2018 salary to help get books into the hands of kids in underserved neighborhoods. With Long announcing his retirement over social media, he can now focus his efforts on charity alongside his wife to continue their community and global impact.

2. Charles Barkley pledges $45,000 for East Africa Clean Water Charity. According to Sports Illustrated, the NBA legend gave an assist to the Milwaukee Bucks’ Malcolm Brogdon during an appearance on TNT's Inside the NBA as he pledged to donate $45,000 to the guard's clean water initiative. Off the court, Brogdon created Hoops2o in 2018, a program dedicated to providing clean water to East Africa. Brogdon’s non-profit was actually founded by Chris Long and its efforts focus on building wells for clean water in East Africa and Tanzania. Brogdon personally travels overseas each summer to help out and has four other NBA players across the league who are helping him raise money for his initiative. The star power in the Raptors and Bucks series helped to highlight philanthropic initiatives such as Hoops2o which adds a new level of depth to the NBA Playoffs.

3. The Somerset Patriots baseball team are selling t-shirts for charity to highlight a viral catch from their broadcaster. Broadcaster Marc Schwartz’s narrated his own catch of a foul ball hit into his booth captured on film by Patriots beat writer Mike Ashmore of and it has since gone viral with millions of views around the world. The video has appeared on multiple MLB broadcasts, ESPN, CBS, ABC, FOX, NBC, Sports Illustrated, local network affiliates, and even Jimmy Kimmel Live and now a shirt has been made to honor the call. According to My Central Jersey, the front of the shirt quotes Schwartz and says “Boy am I impressive” with a cartoon version of Schwartz while the back says “I am very proud of myself” with the Somerset Patriots logo. These "Impressive" T-Shirts are $30 with $5 of every shirt going to the Somerset Patriots Children’s Foundation. The charitable work of the team’s foundation has raised over $5.5 million since the team began play in the Atlantic League in 1998. Marc Schwartz catapulted himself from small ball fame to MLB stardom while helping to raise money for educational, military, and health programs across New Jersey.

4. CC Sabathia’s charity softball game brings together stars in New York. Aaron Judge, Michael Strahan and other notables like Didi Gregorius, Tino Martinez, Action Bronson, Tiki Barber, Johnny Damon, and Aroldis Chapman joined in for CC Sabathia’s second annual charity softball game hosted in the Bronx. According to Feeling the Vibe, team Michael Strahan took on Team CC Sabathia and came out victors by a score of 8-2 with all proceeds being sent to the PitCChIn Foundation led by CC and his wife Amber and the New York Yankees Foundation. The Sabathia’s charity runs multiple initiatives that span baseball clinics, delivering backpacks to kids in need and renovating baseball fields. On the other hand, the Yankees Foundation has done everything from helping a teacher in need of supplies, to refurbishing a neighborhood sports facility, giving $500,000 for Hurricane Sandy relief, or providing assistance in Haiti and Japan. CC Sabathia is a veteran presence on a now young and injured Yankees roster and his leadership is felt both during and outside of game time.

5. Nike is launching an official guide to sustainability for brands. Nike recently partnered with Central Saint Martins to create a manual for designers that lays out the principles for materials that can be indefinitely recycled called circular design. The company has also has researched case studies from companies that have done groundbreaking work on these fronts including Patagonia, Outerknown, For Days, and Eileen Fisher. According to Fast Company, Nike’s guide is deliberately formatted as a kind of textbook. It lays out 10 principles that take you through the life of a product, including elements like picking low-impact materials, designing with recyclability in mind, minimizing waste in manufacturing, prolonging the lifetime of a product through repair and durable construction, and using more thoughtful packaging. Nike is dropping this guide during the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, an annual gathering organized by the sustainability-minded Global Fashion Agenda. Although none of these steps are revolutionary to eco-friendly practices on their own, this outlines a plan for fit a comprehensive eco-friendly system which could potentially change the norm of the fashion and sports industries.

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travelonlinetips-blog · 6 years ago

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Simon Calder at 25: The ultimate travel timeline, from 1994-2019

Over the last 25 years at The Independent, it’s been my privilege to cover some of the most pivotal events, break the biggest new stories and interview the most inspirational people in travel.

Here are the moments that best define my last quarter of a century as a travel journalist.

1990s

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1994 (August): “Only tourism can save Cuba,” Fidel Castro declares, as the Cuban economy implodes following the removal of financial support by Moscow.

1994 (28 September): The Estonia ferry from Tallinn to Stockholm sinks during a storm in the Baltic; 852 passengers and crew die in Europe’s worst peacetime maritime disaster since the Titanic in 1912.

1994 (14 November): The first scheduled Eurostar train departs from London Waterloo through the Channel Tunnel to Paris at 8.23am. The journey is scheduled to take around three hours, and the lowest return fare is £95. The tunnel cost £4.65bn to build, almost double the original estimate.

The Eurostar has come a long way since launching in 1994 (AFP/Getty)

1995 (10 November): The first easyJet flight takes off from Luton to Glasgow, priced £29.

1995 (14 December): The signing of the Dayton Agreement ends the Bosnian War in the former Yugoslavia. In 1990, Yugoslavia had been the UK’s second-most popular package-holiday destination after Spain. But the Foreign Office put Yugoslavia on the “no-go“ list in June 1991.

1996 (4 February): Britain’s first privatised train is the 5.10am from Twickenham to London Waterloo.

1996 (22 October): Microsoft launches an internet travel operation selling plane tickets and hotel rooms, with the brand-name Expedia.

1996 (23 November): An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767 flying from Addis Ababa to Nairobi is hijacked by three men who demand it flies to Australia. The aircraft runs out of fuel just short of the Comoros Islands, and 125 people die in the crash-landing.

1997: Three guidebooks to Antarctica are published, plus one each to Mars and the Moon.

1997 (18 October): The Guggenheim Bilbao opens, and puts the industrial Spanish Basque city on the tourism map.

1997 (14 November): Terrorists attack tourists and guides at an archaeological site on the east bank of the Nile at Luxor. Sixty-two people die in the massacre.

1998 (January): Competition between ferry firms across the Channel becomes so intense that, in a newspaper promotion, Hoverspeed starts paying drivers £1 to take a day trip from Dover to Calais – hoping to make money back on the sale of duty-free alcohol and tobacco.

1998 (15 February): The Angel of the North, a giant winged structure south of Newcastle, becomes a landmark for travellers on the East Coast main line and A1 road.

1998 (3 September): All 229 passengers and crew aboard Swissair flight 111 from New York to Geneva perish when the plane crashes at Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia. The cause is believed to be a fire in the MD11’s cockpit caused by faulty wiring.

Dubai’s Burj Al Arab hotel opened 20 years ago (Getty/iStock)

1999 (1 July): Duty-free benefits are abolished for journeys within the European Union. Predictions by the trade that 140,000 jobs would be lost later proved unfounded.

1999 (5 October): A high-speed train collides with a commuter service at Ladbroke Grove, just outside Paddington station in London, killing 31 people.

1999 (December): The Burj Al Arab hotel opens on an artificial island in Dubai.

2000s

2000 (3 January): KLM turns its British subsidiary, KLM UK (formerly Air UK), into a no-frills airline called Buzz. During its brief 39-month existence, the carrier loses £20 for every passenger flown.

2000 (9 March): The British Airways London Eye, more commonly known as the Millennium Wheel, opens to the public 10 weeks later than planned.

2000 (25 July): An Air France Concorde from Paris to New York crashes shortly after take-off from Charles de Gaulle airport, killing all 109 people onboard and four more on the ground.

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2000 (1 October): The last cross-Channel hovercraft flies between Dover and Calais.

2001 (11 September): Hijackers belonging to al-Qaeda take over four domestic flights in the US and crash them in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania, with the loss of almost 3,000 lives.

2002 (1 January): Euro coins and notes enter circulation in 12 EU countries.

The London Eye opened in March 2000 (AP)

2002 (12 October): Suicide bombers kill 202 people, mainly foreign tourists, in the resort of Kuta on the island of Bali. A further 20 people died in a subsequent attack on the Indonesia island in 2005.

2003 (12 February): The first Jet2 flight takes off from Leeds Bradford, destination Amsterdam. The airline’s tour operation has since grown to become Britain’s second-largest holiday company after Tui, displacing Thomas Cook.

2003 (1 May): In the European Union’s biggest-ever enlargement, 10 new nations join. They include the three Baltic republics – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – that were formerly part of the USSR.

2003 (4 August): Megabus is launched between London and Oxford. Initial services use London double-decker buses.

Concorde gave up the ghost in October 2003 (AFP/Getty)

2003 (24 October): The last flight of Concorde, from New York JFK to Heathrow, ending a project that cost taxpayers billions and mainly benefited the super-rich.

2003 (December): The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam closes for a refurbishment planned to last three years. It reopens 10 years later.

2004 (26 December): The “Boxing Day tsunami”, whose epicentre was off the coast of Sumatra, kills an estimated 228,000 people. The victims include up to 9,000 tourists, mainly in Sri Lanka and Thailand.

2005 (9 October): Smoking is completely outlawed on UK trains when London-to-Scotland sleeper services ban the habit.

The Rijksmuseum reopened in April 2013 after a decade of closure (Getty)

2005 (18 October): Eos, a business-class only transatlantic airline, starts flying between New York and Stansted. It is soon competing to New York against MAXjet from Stansted and Silverjet from Luton. MAXjet is first to go bust, on Christmas Eve 2007; all three had closed down by May 2008.

2005 (November): Flybe announces plans to become the first airline to start charging for checked baggage. The initial charge is £2. Fares are reduced, says the airline, by £1.

2006 (July): The city of Bath’s Millennium Project, Thermae Bath Spa, opens five years late and three times over budget.

2006 (10 August): The “liquid bomb plot” is uncovered. Terrorists planned to smuggle explosive substances on board transatlantic planes in soft-drink cans. An immediate ban on any liquids sees even ballpoint pens confiscated from passengers. The strict new rules brought Heathrow and other airports almost to a standstill, with British Airways alone cancelling over 1,500 flights. The rules on “liquids, aerosols and gels” were eased three months later.

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2007 (February): Thomas Cook and MyTravel (formerly Airtours) announce they are to merge. One month later, Britain’s other two big tour operators – Thomson and First Choice – follow suit. The latter company is now known as Tui, with First Choice as its all-inclusive brand.

2007 (19 March): The final edition of the Holiday programme is broadcast on BBC1. It had launched on 2 January 1969 as “A series of programmes to help you choose your next holiday”, with the focus on low-price packages to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The last report is a river trip down the Mekong in Laos.

2007 (25 October): The Airbus A380 ”SuperJumbo” enters service between Singapore and Sydney. The aircraft used for the historic first flight is currently being dismantled for parts in southwest France.

2008 (11 August): An accommodation website called Airbedandbreakfast.com is founded in San Francisco. Nine months later, the site is relaunched as Airbnb.

2008 (12 September): XL Airways closes, blaming the economic downturn and volatile fuel prices. Around 80,000 passengers are stranded out of position.

Uber started life in the Noughties (iStock)

2008 (11 November): The QE2 begins her final voyage from Southampton to Dubai, where she was due to become a floating hotel. The conversion took a decade.

2008 (21 November): Oasis of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship in history, is launched. The Royal Caribbean vessel can carry more than 6,000 passengers.

2009 (March): A company called UberCab is founded in San Francisco. In June 2009, the Uber app is launched.

2009 (12 December): The Orient Express train, which by this time is running only between Strasbourg and Budapest, is abolished. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a luxury train, continues.

2009 (14 December): British Airways cabin crew call a 12-day strike over Christmas and New Year, after a 9-1 vote in favour of industrial action in a dispute over proposed changes to working conditions. But the High Court orders the Unite union to cancel the strike because of voting irregularities.

2009 (18 December): During extreme wintry weather, five Eurostar trains break down in the Channel Tunnel with more than 2,000 people onboard.

2010s

2010 (15 April): The skies of northern Europe are closed because of an erupting Icelandic volcano. A ban on flying over Britain lasts for nearly a week.

2011 (May): The BA cabin-crew dispute ends with an agreement for the creation of a new “mixed fleet” of cabin crew.

2012 (31 March): Titanic Belfast opens, interpreting the social history of Northern Ireland around the narrative of the doomed ocean liner. It has exceeded all forecasts for visitor numbers.

The Titanic Belfast Museum (Rex)

2012 (August): During the London Olympics, 18 per cent of hotel rooms in the capital are empty – twice the usual vacancies in August.

2013 (16 January): All 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft are grounded following a series of fires involving lithium-ion batteries. The ban is lifted after three months.

2014 (8 March): A Malaysian Airline Boeing 777 flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappears with 239 passengers and crew on board. Flight MH370 is believed to be in the Indian Ocean west of Australia, but the cause of its loss is unknown. Four months later, another Malaysian 777, flight MH17, is shot down over eastern Ukraine with the loss of 298 lives.

2015 (24 March): Andreas Lubitz, co-pilot of Germanwings flight 9525 from Barcelona to Dusseldorf, kills himself and the other 149 people onboard by crashing his plane into the French Alps.

The reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 (Reuters)

2015 (25 April): A massive earthquake kills 8,000 people in Nepal, and devastates much of the tourist industry.

2015 (1 May): Eurostar launches direct trains from London to Marseille, connecting the Thames with the Mediterranean in six hours.

2015 (26 June): At the Tunisian resort of Sousse, a gunman kills 38 victims, including 30 British tourists.

2015 (31 October): a Metrojet Airbus A321 crashes shortly after take-off from Sharm el Sheikh, destination St Petersburg, killing all 224 passengers and crew. The cause is suspected to be a bomb placed onboard at the airport. The UK ban on British airlines from flying to the Egyptian resort is still in place.

A guide to the Qantas Perth flight – the longest nonstop scheduled passenger flight ever from a UK airport

2016 (January): Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease linked to birth defects in babies, spreads quickly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2017 (2 October): Monarch Airlines collapses, owing creditors half a billion pounds. The Civil Aviation Authority organises an airlift for 85,000 people, at an eventual cost to the taxpayer of £40.5m.

2018 (25 March): Qantas flight 10 operates the first nonstop passenger flight from the UK to Australia, linking Heathrow with Perth in 17 hours.

2018 (19 December): Gatwick airport’s runway closes after a drone is spotted. The closure lasts for 33 hours, cancelling the pre-Christmas flights of 150,000 passengers.

Virgin Galactic is set to take flight (AFP/Getty )

2019 (10 March): Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi crashes soon after take-off, killing all 157 onboard. It is the second fatal accident involving a Boeing 737 Max in five months. Three days later, the US Federal Aviation Administration becomes the last safety authority to ground the plane.

2019 (21 April): On Easter Sunday, terrorists kill more than 250 people in Sri Lanka. The suicide bombers target churches and luxury hotels. Shortly afterwards, the Foreign Office warns against all but essential travel to the island.

2019 (10 May): Sir Richard Branson announced that Virgin Galactic is moving in to Spaceport America – the world’s first, purpose-built commercial spaceport, signalling “the final countdown to a regular commercial spaceflight service for paying passengers”.

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wheelcarrot6-blog · 6 years ago

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Siemens & Halske Telegraph Construction Company Is Founded (1847)

Siemens AG Type Aktiengesellschaft Traded as FWB: SIE NYSE: SI Industry Conglomerate Founded October 1, 1847 (Berlin) Founder(s) Werner von Siemens Headquarters Munich and Berlin, Germany Area served Worldwide Key people Gerhard Cromme (Chairman) Joe Kaeser (President & CEO) Products Communication systems, power generation technology, industrial and buildings automation, lighting, medical technology, railway vehicles, water treatment systems, home appliances, fire alarms, PLM software Services Business services, financing, project engineering and construction Revenue €78.29 billion (2012)[1] Operating income €6.760 billion (2012)[1] Net income €4.458 billion (2012)[1] Total assets €108.28 billion (2012)[1] Total equity €30.73 billion (2012)[1] Employees 405,000 (2012)[1] Divisions Industry, Energy, Healthcare, Infrastructure and Cities Website www.siemens.com

Siemens AG (German pronunciation: [ˈziːmɛns]) is a German multinational engineering and electronics conglomerate company headquartered in Munich and Berlin, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company.[2]

Siemens' principal activities are in the fields of industry, energy, transportation and healthcare. It is organized into five main divisions: Industry, Energy, Healthcare, Infrastructure & Cities, and Siemens Financial Services (SFS). Siemens and its subsidiaries employ approximately 360,000 people across nearly 190 countries and reported global revenue of approx 73.5 billion euros for the year of 2011.[3] The company has been the subject of considerable controversy in recent years.

History

Werner von Siemens

1847 to 1901

Siemens & Halske was founded by Werner von Siemens on 12 October 1847. Based on the telegraph, his invention used a needle to point to the sequence of letters, instead of using Morse code. The company, then called Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske, opened its first workshop on October 12.

In 1848, the company built the first long-distance telegraph line in Europe; 500 km from Berlin to Frankfurt am Main. In 1850, the founder's younger brother, Carl Wilhelm Siemens started to represent the company in London. In the 1850s, the company was involved in building long distance telegraph networks in Russia. In 1855, a company branch headed by another brother, Carl Heinrich von Siemens, opened in St Petersburg, Russia. In 1867, Siemens completed the monumental Indo-European (Calcutta to London) telegraph line.[4]

In 1881, a Siemens AC Alternator driven by a watermill was used to power the world's first electric street lighting in the town of Godalming, United Kingdom. The company continued to grow and diversified into electric trains and light bulbs. In 1890, the founder retired and left the company to his brother Carl and sons Arnold and Wilhelm.

1901 to 1933

Siemens & Halske (S & H) was incorporated in 1897, and then merged parts of its activities with Schuckert & Co., Nuremberg in 1903 to become Siemens-Schuckert.

In 1907, Siemens (Siemens & Halske and Siemens-Schuckert) had 34,324 employees and was the seventh-largest company in the German empire by number of employees.[5] (see List of German companies by employees in 1907)

In 1919, S & H and two other companies jointly formed the Osram lightbulb company. A Japanese subsidiary was established in 1923.

During the 1920s and 1930s, S & H started to manufacture radios, television sets, and electron microscopes.

In 1932, Reiniger, Gebbert & Schall (Erlangen), Phönix AG (Rudolstadt) and Siemens-Reiniger-Veifa mbH (Berlin) merged to form the Siemens-Reiniger-Werke AG (SRW), the third of the so-called parent companies that merged in 1966 to form the present-day Siemens AG.[6]

In the 1920s, Siemens constructed the Ardnacrusha Hydro Power station on the River Shannon in the then Irish Free State, and it was a world first for its design. The company is remembered for its desire to raise the wages of its under-paid workers only to be overruled by the Cumann na nGaedheal government.[7]

1933 to 1945

In the 1930s, prior to the Second World War, Siemens was involved in funding the rise of the Nazi Party and the secret rearmament of Germany.[citation needed]

During the second World War, Siemens supported the Hitler regime[citation needed], contributed to the war effort and participated in the "Nazification" of the economy.[8][citation needed] Siemens had many factories in and around notorious concentration camps[9][10] to build electric switches for military uses.[11] In one example, almost 100,000 men and women[citation needed]from Auschwitz worked in a Siemens factory inside the camp, supplying the electricity to the camp.

During the final years of the war, numerous plants and factories in Berlin and other major cities were destroyed by Allied air raids. To prevent further losses, manufacturing was therefore moved to alternative places and regions not affected by the air war. The goal was to secure continued production of important war-related and everyday goods. According to records, Siemens was operating almost 400 alternative or relocated manufacturing plants at the end of 1944 and in early 1945.

In 1972, Siemens sued German satirist F.C. Delius for his satirical history of the company, Unsere Siemenswelt, and it was determined much of the book contained false claims although the trial itself publicized Siemens' history in Nazi Germany.[12] Contemporary scholars have been uncovering some of the atrocities of Siemens during this time, including forced and slave labor at Ravensbrück and in the Auschwitz subcamp of Bobrek, among others[citation needed]. Additionally, the company supplied electrical parts to concentration camps and death camps. The factories had poor working conditions, where malnutrition and death were common. Also, the scholarship has shown that the camp factories were created, run, and supplied by the SS, in conjunction with company officials, sometimes high-level officials.[13][14][15][16]

Siemens businessman and Nazi Party member John Rabe is, however, credited with saving many Chinese lives during the Nanking Massacre. He later toured Germany lecturing on the atrocities committed in Nanking.[17]

1945 to 2001

In the 1950s and from their new base in Bavaria, S&H started to manufacture computers, semiconductor devices, washing machines, and pacemakers.

In 1966, Siemens & Halske (S&H, founded in 1847), Siemens-Schuckertwerke (SSW, founded in 1903) and Siemens-Reiniger-Werke (SRW, founded in 1932) merged to form Siemens AG.[6]

In 1969, Siemens formed Kraftwerk Union with AEG by pooling their nuclear power businesses.[18]

The company's first digital telephone exchange was produced in 1980. In 1988 Siemens and GEC acquired the UK defence and technology company Plessey. Plessey's holdings were split, and Siemens took over the avionics, radar and traffic control businesses — as Siemens Plessey.

In 1985, Siemens bought Allis-Chalmers' interest in the partnership company Siemens-Allis (formed 1978) which supplied electrical control equipment. It was incorporated into Siemens' Energy and Automation division.[19]

In 1987, Siemens reintegrated Kraftwerk Union, the unit overseeing nuclear power business.[18]

In 1991, Siemens acquired Nixdorf Computer AG and renamed it Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG, in order to produce personal computers.

In October 1991, Siemens acquired the Industrial Systems Division of Texas Instruments, Inc, based in Johnson City, Tennessee. This division was organized as Siemens Industrial Automation, Inc., and was later absorbed by Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc.

In 1997, Siemens agreed to sell the defence arm of Siemens Plessey to British Aerospace (BAe) and a German aerospace company, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace. BAe and DASA acquired the British and German divisions of the operation respectively.[20]

In October 1997, Siemens Financial Services (SFS) was founded to act as competence center for financing issues and as a manager of financial risks within Siemens.

In 1998, Siemens acquired Westinghouse Power Generation for more than $1.5 billion from CBS corp and moving Siemens from third to second the world power generation market.[21]

In 1999, Siemens' semiconductor operations were spun off into a new company known as Infineon Technologies. Also, Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG formed part of Fujitsu Siemens Computers AG in that year. The retail banking technology group became Wincor Nixdorf.

In 2000, Shared Medical Systems Corporation[22] was acquired by the Siemens' Medical Engineering Group,[23] eventually becoming part of Siemens Medical Solutions.

Also in 2000 Atecs-Mannesman was acquired by Siemens,[24] The sale was finalised in April 2001 with 50% of the shares acquired, acquisition, Mannesmann VDO AG merged into Siemens Automotive forming Siemens VDO Automotive AG, Atecs Mannesmann Dematic Systems merged into Siemens Production and Logistics forming Siemens Dematic AG, Mannesmann Demag Delaval merged into the Power Generation division of Siemens AG.[25] Other parts of the company were acquired by Robert Bosch GmbH at the same time.[26]

2001 to 2011

In 2001 Chemtech Group of Brazil was incorporated into the Siemens Group,[27] the company provides industrial process optimisation, consultancy and other engineering services[28]

Also in 2001, Siemens formed joint venture Framatome with Areva SA of France by merging much of their nuclear businesses.[18]

In 2002, Siemens sold some of its business activities to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR), with its metering business included in the sale package. [29]

In 2003 Siemens acquired the flow division of Danfoss and incorporated it into the Automation and Drives division.[30] Also in 2003 Siemens acquired IndX software (realtime data organisation and presentation).[31][32] The same year in an unrelated development Siemens reopened its office in Kabul.[33] Also in 2003 agreed to buy Alstom Industrial Turbines; a manufacturer of small, medium and industrial gas turbines for 1.1 billion Euro.[34][35]

In 2004 the wind energy company Bonus Energy in Brande, Denmark was acquired,[36][37] forming Siemens Wind Power division.[38] Also in 2004 Siemens invested in Dasan Networks (South Korea, broadband network equipment) acquiring ~40% of the shares,[39] Nokia Siemens disinvested itself of the shares in 2008.[40] The same year Siemens acquired Photo-Scan (UK, CCTV systems)[41] US Filter Corporation (water and Waste Water Treatment Technologies/ Solutions, acquired from Veolia),[42] Hunstville Electronics Corporation (automobile electronics, acquired from Chrysler),[43] and Chantry Networks (WLAN equipment)[44]

In 2005 Siemens sold the Siemens mobile manufacturing business to BenQ, forming the BenQ-Siemens division. Also in 2005 Siemens acquired Flender Holding GmbH (Bocholt, Germany, gears/industrial drives),[45] Bewator AB (building security systems),[46] Wheelabrator Air Pollution Control, Inc. (Industrial and power station dust control systems),[47] AN Windenegrie GmbH. (Wind energy),[48] Power Technologies Inc. (Schenectady, USA, energy industry software and training),[49] CTI Molecular Imaging (Positron emission tomography and molecular imaging systems),[50][51] Myrio (IPTV systems),[52] Shaw Power Technologoes International Ltd (UK/USA, electrical engineering consulting, acquired from Shaw Group),[53][54] and Transmitton (Ashby de la Zouch UK, rail and other industry control and asset management).[55]

In 2006, Siemens announced the purchase of Bayer Diagnostics, which was incorporated into the Medical Solutions Diagnostics division on 1 January 2007,[citation needed] also in 2006 Siemens acquired Controlotron (New York) (ultrasonic flow meters)[56][57] Also in 2006 Siemens acquired Diagnostic Products Corp., Kadon Electro Mechanical Services Ltd. (now TurboCare Canada Ltd.), Kühnle, Kopp, & Kausch AG, Opto Control, and VistaScape Security Systems[58]

Siemens power generating wind turbine towers

In March 2007 a Siemens board member was temporarily arrested and accused of illegally financing a business-friendly labour association which competes against the union IG Metall. He has been released on bail. Offices of the labour union and of Siemens have been searched. Siemens denies any wrongdoing.[59] In April the Fixed Networks, Mobile Networks and Carrier Services divisions of Siemens merged with Nokia's Network Business Group in a 50/50 joint venture, creating a fixed and mobile network company called Nokia Siemens Networks. Nokia delayed the merger[60] due to bribery investigations against Siemens.[61] In October 2007, a court in Munich found that the company had bribed public officials in Libya, Russia, and Nigeria in return for the awarding of contracts; four former Nigerian Ministers of Communications were among those named as recipients of the payments. The company admitted to having paid the bribes and agreed to pay a fine of 201 million euros. In December 2007, the Nigerian government cancelled a contract with Siemens due to the bribery findings.[62][63]

Also in 2007 Siemens acquired Vai Ingdesi Automation (Argentina, Industrial Automation), UGS Corp., Dade Behring, Sidelco (Quebec, Canada), S/D Engineers Inc., and Gesellschaft für Systemforschung und Dienstleistungen im Gesundheitswesen mbH (GSD) (Germany).

In July 2008, Siemens AG announced a joint venture of the Enterprise Communications business with the Gores Group. The Gores Group holding a majority interest of 51% stake, with Siemens AG holding a minority interest of 49%.[64]

In August 2008, Siemens Project Ventures invested $15 million in the Arava Power Company. In a press release published that month, Peter Löscher, President and CEO of Siemens AG said: “This investment is another consequential step in further strengthening our green and sustainable technologies”. Siemens now holds a 40% stake in the company. [65]

In January 2009, Siemens announced to sell its 34% stake in Framatome, complaining limited managerial influence. In March, it announced to form an alliance with Rosatom of Russia to engage in nuclear-power activities.[18]

In April 2009, Fujitsu Siemens Computers became Fujitsu Technology Solutions as a result of Fujitsu buying out Siemens' share of the company.

In October 2009, Siemens signed a $418-million contract to buy Solel Solar Systems an Israeli company in the solar thermal power business.[66]

In December 2010 Siemens agreed to sell its IT Solutions and Services subsidiary for €850 million to Atos. As part of the deal, Siemens agreed to take a 15% stake in the enlarged Atos, to be held for a minimum of five years. In addition, Siemens concluded a seven-year outsourcing contract worth around €5.5 billion, under which Atos will provide managed services and systems integration to Siemens.

2011 to present

In March 2011, it was decided to list Osram on the stock market in the autumn, but CEO Peter Löscher said Siemens intended to retain a long-term interest in the company, which was already independent from the technological and managerial viewpoints.

In September 2011 Siemens, which had been responsible for constructing all 17 of Germany's existing nuclear power plants, announced that it would exit the nuclear sector following the Fukushima disaster and the subsequent changes to German energy policy. Chief executive Peter Loescher has supported the German government's planned Energiewende, its transition to renewable energy technologies, calling it a "project of the century" and saying Berlin's target of reaching 35% renewable energy sources by 2020 was feasible.[67]

In November 2012, Invensys sold its Rail arm to Siemens for £1.7bn. In the same month, Siemens made the announcement of acquiring a privately held company, LMS International NV. [68]

Products and services

Siemens offers a wide range of electrical engineering- and electronics-related products and services.[69] Its products can be broadly divided into the following categories: buildings-related products; drives, automation and industrial plant-related products; energy-related products; lighting; medical products; and transportation and logistics-related products.[69]

Siemens' buildings-related products include building automation equipment and systems; building operations equipment and systems; building safety equipment and systems; building security equipment and systems; and low-voltage switchgear including circuit protection and distribution products.[69]

Siemens' drives, automation and industrial plant-related products include motors and drives for conveyor belts; pumps and compressors; heavy duty motors and drives for rolling steel mills; compressors for oil and gas pipelines; mechanical components including gears for wind turbines and cement mills; automation equipment and systems and controls for production machinery and machine toohimels; and industrial plant for water processing and raw material processing.[69]

Siemens' energy-related products include gas and steam turbines; generators; compressors; on- and offshore wind turbines; high-voltage transmission products; power transformers; high-voltage switching products and systems; alternating and direct current transmission systems; medium-voltage components and systems; and power automation products.[69]

Siemens' OSRAM subsidiary produces lighting products including incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent, fluorescent, high-intensity discharge and Xenon lamps; opto-electronic semiconductor light sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic LEDs, high power laser diodes, LED systems and LED luminaires; electronic equipment including electronic ballasts; lighting control and management systems; and related precision components.[69]

Siemens' medical products include clinical information technology systems; hearing instruments; in-vitro diagnostics equipment; imaging equipment including angiography, computed tomography, fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance, mammography, molecular imaging ultrasound, and x-ray equipment; and radiation oncology and particle therapy equipment.[69]

Siemens' transportation and logistics-related products include equipment and systems for rail transportation including rail vehicles for mass transit, regional and long-distance transportation, locomotives, equipment and systems for rail electrification, central control systems, interlockings, and automated train controls; equipment and systems for road traffic including traffic detection, information and guidance; equipment and systems for airport logistics including cargo tracking and baggage handling; and equipment and systems for postal automation including letter parcel sorting.[69]

A Siemens SPECT/CT scanner in operation

A Siemens wind generation turbine

A Siemens steam turbine rotor

A Siemens train in operation

Operations

Siemens' headquarters in Munich, front building

Siemens' headquarters, back building

Siemens-Tower in Berlin-Siemensstadt

"Wernerwerk" (Werner's Factory) in Berlin-Siemensstadt

Wernerwerk II in Berlin-Siemensstadt

Wernerwerk XV in Berlin-Siemensstadt

Siemens office building in Erlangen

SiemensFactory in Munich-Perlach

Siemens workman's dwelling in Munich

Siemens Forum Munich

Siemens is incorporated in Germany and has its corporate headquarters in Munich.[70] It has operations in around 190 countries and approximately 285 production and manufacturing facilities.[70] Siemens had around 360,000 employees as of 30 September 2011.[70]

Sectors and divisions

Siemens is organized into four "sectors" and 19 divisions:

Industry Sector (led by Siegfried Russwurm)

Comprising three divisions: Industry Automation, Drive Technologies, Customer Services

Energy Sector (led by Michael Süß)

Comprising six divisions: Fossil Power Generation, Wind Power, Solar & Hydro, Oil & Gas, Energy Service, Power Transmission

Healthcare Sector (led by Hermann Requardt)

Comprising four divisions: Imaging & Therapy Systems, Clinical Product, Diagnostics, Customer Solutions

Infrastructure & Cities (led by Roland Busch)

Comprising six divisions: Rail Systems, Mobility and Logistics, Low and Medium Voltage, Smart Grid, Building Technologies, OSRAM

In addition two other central divisions, Siemens IT Solutions and Services and Siemens Financial Services,[71][72] provide services to the rest of the company.[73]

Research and development

In 2011 Siemens invested a total of €3.925 billion in research and development, equivalent to 5.3% of revenues.[70] As of 30 September 2011 Siemens had approximately 11,800 Germany-based employees engaged in research and development and approximately 16,000 in the rest of the world, of whom the majority were based in one of Austria, China, Croatia, Denmark, France, India, Mexico, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.[70] As of 30 September 2011 Siemens held approximately 53,300 patents worldwide.[70]

Joint ventures

In addition to the Nokia Siemens telecommunications giant formed in 2006 the company has a number of other joint ventures:

Siemens Traction Equipment Ltd. (STEZ), Zhuzhou China, is a joint venture between Siemens, Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric Co., Ltd. (TEC) and CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. (ZELC). which produces AC drive electric locomotives and AC locomotive traction components.[74]

Silcar Pty. Ltd., Silcar’s parent companies are Siemens Ltd and Thiess Services Pty Ltd. Silcar has 50/50 shareholders; Siemens Ltd (a global leader in electrical engineering and electronics) and Thiess Services (a leading integrated engineering and services provider in Australasia and South East Asia). Silcar is a 3,000 person Australian organisation providing productivity and reliability for large scale and technically complex plant assets. Services include asset management, design, construction, operations and maintenance. Silcar operates across a range of industries and essential services including power generation, electrical distribution, manufacturing, mining and telecommunications.

Senior management

Chairmen of the Siemens-Schuckertwerke Managing Board (1903 to 1966)[75]

Alfred Berliner (1903 to 1912)

Carl Friedrich von Siemens (1912 to 1919)

Otto Heinrich (1919 to 1920)

Carl Köttgen (1920 to 1939)

Rudolf Bingel (1939 to 1945)[citation needed]

Wolf-Dietrich von Witzleben (1945 to 1949)

Günther Scharowsky (1949 to 1951)

Friedrich Bauer (1951 to 1962)

Bernhard Plettner (1962 to 1966)

Chairmen of the Siemens & Halske / Siemens-Schuckertwerke Supervisory Board (1918 to 1966)[75]

Chairmen of the Siemens AG Managing Board (1966 to present)[75]

Hans Kerschbaum, Adolf Lohse, Bernhard Plettner (Presidency of the Managing Board) (1966 to 1967)

Erwin Hachmann, Bernhard Plettner, Gerd Tacke (Presidency of the Managing Board) (1967 to 1968)

Gerd Tacke (1968 to 1971)

Bernhard Plettner (1971 to 1981)

Karlheinz Kaske (1981 to 1992)

Heinrich von Pierer (1992 to 2005)

Klaus Kleinfeld (2005 to 2007)

Peter Löscher (2007 to present)

Chairmen of the Siemens AG Supervisory Board (1966 to present)[75]

Ernst von Siemens (1966 to 1971)

Peter von Siemens (1971 to 1981)

Bernhard Plettner (1981 to 1988)

Heribald Närger (1988 to 1993)

Hermann Franz (1993 to 1998)

Karl-Hermann Baumann (1998 to 2005)

Heinrich von Pierer (2005 to 2007)

Gerhard Cromme (2007 to present)

Managing Board (present day)[76]

Joe Kaeser (CEO, 2013 to present)

Roland Busch (CEO Infrastructure & Cities Sector)

Brigitte Ederer (Head of Corporate Human Resources and Labor Director)

Klaus Helmrich (Chief Technology Officer)

Joe Kaeser (CFO)

Barbara Kux (Head of Supply Chain Management)

Hermann Requardt (CEO Healthcare Sector)

Siegfried Russwurm (CEO Industry Sector)

Peter Y. Solmssen (Head of Corporate Legal and Compliance)

Michael Süß (CEO Energy Sector)

Controversies

Nazi Germany

Siemens was complicit in the use of forced labour from Nazi concentration camps during World War II.[77]

2007 price fixing fine

In January 2007 Siemens was fined €396 million by the European Commission for price fixing in EU electricity markets through a cartel involving 11 companies, including ABB, Alstom, Fuji, Hitachi Japan, AE Power Systems, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Schneider, Areva, Toshiba and VA Tech.[77] According to the Commission, "between 1988 and 2004, the companies rigged bids for procurement contracts, fixed prices, allocated projects to each other, shared markets and exchanged commercially important and confidential information."[77] Siemens was given the highest fine of €396 million, more than half of the total, for its alleged leadership role in the incident.

Bribery case

Siemens agreed to pay a record $1.34 billion in fines in December 2008[78] after being investigated for serious bribery. The investigation found questionable payments of roughly €1.3 billion, from 2002 to 2006 that triggered a broad range of inquiries in Germany, the United States and many other countries.[79]

In May 2007 a German court convicted two former executives of paying about €6 million in bribes from 1999 to 2002 to help Siemens win natural gas turbine supply contracts with Enel, an Italian energy company. The contracts were valued at about €450 million. Siemens was fined €38 million.[80]

Iran telecoms controversy

Nokia Siemens supplied telecommunications equipment to the Iranian telecom company that included the ability to intercept and monitor telecommunications, a facility known as "lawful intercept". The equipment was believed to have been used in the suppression of the 2009–2010 Iranian election protests, leading to criticism of the company, including by the European Parliament. Nokia-Siemens later divested its call monitoring business, and reduced its activities in Iran.[81][82][83][84][85][86]

Greek bribes, Greek metro and traffic lights controversy

Siemens has been accused of bribing Greek officials.[87][88][89] In 2008, it was revealed that Siemens had bribed the two main political parties of Greece for approximately 10 years to be the sole provider of mechanical and electrical equipment of the Greek state.[citation needed] After the exposure the German authorities moved to arrest the representatives of Siemens in Greece, who had managed to escape from the Greek authorities.[90] The German judicial system didn't allow the Greek authorities to cross-question the representatives.[citation needed] As a result, there wasn't any solid evidence against the corrupt politicians, who weren't arrested and continue to be active in the Greek political system.[citation needed] Meanwhile, the Greek state cancelled the planned business deals. Since all spares were provided by Siemens, the equipment, like traffic lights eventually broke down, and projects like the metro expansion were abandoned.[citation needed]

Further reading

Weiher, Siegfried von /Herbert Goetzeler (1984). The Siemens Company, Its Historical Role in the Progress of Electrical Engineering 1847–1980, 2nd ed. Berlin and Munich.

Feldenkirchen, Wilfried (2000). Siemens, From Workshop to Global Player, Munich.

Feldenkirchen, Wilfried / Eberhard Posner (2005): The Siemens Entrepreneurs, Continuity and Change, 1847–2005, Ten Portraits, Munich.

Greider, William (1997). One World, Ready or Not. Penguin Press. ISBN 0-7139-9211-5.

Margarete Buber: 303f As prisoners of Stalin and Hitler, Frankf / Main, Berlin 1993

See Carola Sachse: Jewish forced labor and non-Jewish women and men at Siemens from 1940 to 1945, in: International Scientific Correspondence, No. 1/1991, pp. 12–24; Karl-Heinz Roth: forced labor in the Siemens Group (1938 -1945). Facts, controversies, problems, in: Hermann Kaienburg (ed.): concentration camps and the German Economy 1939-1945 (Social studies, H. 34), Opladen 1996, pp. 149–168; Wilfried Feldenkirchen: 1918-1945 Siemens, Munich 1995, Ulrike fire, Claus Füllberg-Stolberg, Sylvia Kempe: work at Ravensbrück concentration camp, in: Women in concentration camps. Bergen-Belsen. Ravensbrück, Bremen, 1994, pp. 55–69; Ursula Krause-Schmitt: The path to the Siemens stock led past the crematorium, in: Information. German Resistance Study Group, Frankfurt / Main, 18 Jg, No. 37/38, Nov. 1993, pp. 38–46; Sigrid Jacobeit: working at Siemens in Ravensbrück, in: Dietrich Eichholz (eds) War and economy. Studies on German economic history 1939-1945, Berlin 1999.

Bundesarchiv Berlin, NS 19, No. 968, Communication on the creation of the barracks for the Siemens & Halske, the planned production and the planned expansion for 2,500 prisoners "after direct discussions with this company": Economic and Administrative Main Office of the SS ( WVHA), Oswald Pohl, secretly, to Reichsführer SS (RFSS), Heinrich Himmler, dated 20.10.1942.

Karl-Heinz Roth: forced labor in the Siemens Group, with a summary table, page 157 See also Ursula Krause-Schmitt: "The road to Siemens stock led to the crematorium past over," pp. 36f, where, according to the catalogs of the International Tracing Service Arolsen and Martin Weinmann (eds.).. The Nazi camp system, Frankfurt / Main 1990 and Feldkirchen: Siemens 1918-1945, pp. 198–214, and in particular the associated annotations 91-187.

MSS in the estate include Wanda Kiedrzy'nska, in: National Library of Poland, Warsaw, Manuscript Division, Sygn. akc 12013/1 and archive the memorial I/6-7-139 RA: see also: Woman Ravensbruck concentration camp. An overall presentation, State Justice Administration in Ludwigsburg, IV ART 409-Z 39/59, April 1972, pp. 129ff.

External links

Links to related articles

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Duration: 8 nights/9 days

Affordable Europe

The Ultimate Europe Group tours from India include these cites London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hague, Paris, Titisee, Zurich, Vaduz, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Vatican City, Venice, Rome, Pisa, Milan and your trip is incomplete without visiting the specialties of these cities. From beginning to London Bridge Madame Tussaud’s wax museum should be listed. The next destination is splendid Brussels city with the visit to Grand Palace & Manneken Pis Statue, Art Deco Building of Golden Era. The favorite of whole Europe is Paris for its awe inspiring tour covering Arc de Triomphe, Trocadero, The Louvre (outside), Champs Elysees, Eiffel Tower (2nd Level), Disneyland, River Seine Cruise, Lido displayed all in one city. Switzerland the heaven on Earth includes visit to Lucerne, Interlaken and Engel berg. This would definitely be a treat to your senses. Similarly the cities of Austria will amaze you through Innsbruck City Tour, Golden Roof, Imperial Palace & Imperial Church and Swarovski's Crystal Museum. Fall in love with the city of Italy by going to Venice, Vatican City, Florence, Pisa, Rome and this country would surprise you at every tourist attraction.

Duration: 14 nights/15 days

So just start planning for your summer trip before it is too late!

Source- https://www.parasholidays.in/blog/summer-holiday-in-europe/

#Europe Group tours #Europe holiday Packages #Europe Travel Packages

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nuclearblastuk · 7 years ago

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IN FLAMES JOIN FORCES WITH FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH FOR UK ARENA TOUR!

A true clash of the titans! Chart-topping European legends In Flames will unite with US multi-platinum hard rock band Five Finger Death Punch, to play what promises to be the biggest and most exciting arena rock tour of autumn 2017. This marks the very first time that these two juggernauts have joined forces on the road together, and it will be a “can’t miss” moment for the genre and fans. The trek will ravage arenas across Europe and the UK beginning in November, stopping in most major cities, finally concluding on December 21st at the iconic Wembley Arena in London, UK.

General tickets will go on sale this Friday, June 16th at 10:00am BST. Tickets will be available from here: www.inflames.com Spotify and Live Nation have joined forces with In Flames and Five Finger Death Punch for a one-of-a-kind tour partnership featuring exclusive pre-sales, packages, and content from both bands. The tour has partnered with Spotify for an exclusive 24-hour pre-sale kicking off tomorrow (Wednesday Jun 14th at 10:00am BST) for passionate listeners of both acts. There will also be a Ticketmaster pre-sale starting on June 15th at 10:00am BST leading up to the general on sale the next day. UK tour dates below. 17th December – Birmingham, BCA 18th December – Glasgow, Hydro 20th December – Leeds, Leeds Arena 21st December – London, Wembley Arena

For the full tour dates inc. European dates please see below. Additional show dates are anticipated to be announced in the near future. For exclusive VIP offerings, go to http://inflames.seetickets.com/tour/in-flames and www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com

LiveNation presents the tour in partnership with Spotify. German tour dates will be presented by LiveNation, Wizard Promotions, and Spotify.

In Flames singer Anders Fridén offers: “We’ve been lucky to play for so many Jesterheads around the world this year and can’t think of a better way to end 2017 than touring Europe with Five Finger Death Punch. We’ll see you soon Jesterheads and Knuckleheads. It’s going to be a tour to remember.”

5FDP guitarist Zoltan Bathory states: "We are currently playing all the European festivals and are having an amazing time. As these massive crowds are singing along every word of the lyrics, it feels like Europe is truly becoming the second home of Five Finger Death Punch. We can't wait to come back this autumn and especially with In Flames which is one of my favourite bands. This will be something special to see…”

Support on select EU dates and all UK dates of the tour comes from Of Mice & Men. The Orange County, CA-based band recently returned with two brand new songs, ‘Back To Me’ and ‘Unbreakable,’ via Rise Records. They performed a successful main stage set at Download Festival this past weekend and will be on tour across Europe throughout July.

FULL TOUR DATES: 16th Nov – (Sweden), Gothenburg, Scandinavium 17th Nov – (Sweden), Stockholm, Ericsson Globe 21st Nov – (Germany), Hamburg, Sportshalle 22nd Nov – (Germany), Berlin, Velodrome 24th Nov – (Germany), Oberhausen, KP Arena 26th Nov – (Czech Republic), Prague, Forum Karlin* 28th Nov – (Switzerland), Zurich, Hallenstadion*

29th N Nov – (Germany), Munich, Olympiahalle 30th Nov – (Italy), Padova, Geox Theatre* 2nd Dec – (Germany), Stuttgart, HMH Schleyerhalle

4th Dec – (France) Paris, Olympia* 5th Dec – (Luxembourg) Luxembourg, Rockhal*

6th Dec – (Germany) Frankfurt, Festhalle

8th Dec – (Austria) Vienna, Stadthalle* 14th Dec – (Belgium) Antwerp, Lotto*

15th Dec – (Netherlands) Amsterdam, AFAS Live* 17th Dec – (UK) Birmingham, BCA* 18th Dec – (UK) Glasgow, Hydro* 20th Dec – (UK) Leeds, Leeds Arena* 21st Dec – (UK) London, Wembley Arena*

*with Of Mice & Men

Both Five Finger Death Punch and In Flames remain the firm leaders of hard rock and heavy music worldwide!

12 albums into their storied career, In Flames reached new heights on 2016’s ‘Battles’ - produced by GRAMMY Award winner Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, Papa Roach), hitting top 10 charts around the world with a #2 in Sweden, #3 in Finland and multiple other major countries. Alternative Press, Metal Hammer, and more praised the record as the hit ‘The End’ clocked over 6.6 million Spotify streams and counting. Most recently, they unleashed two new official music videos for their latest singles; first being ‘Here Until Forever’ in May via Decibel, HERE https://youtu.be/Pq4NJBr-pxM and ‘Save Me’ via European retail giant EMP, today upon announcement of the tour. Watch “Save Me” HERE http://hyperurl.co/aeirom You can purchase In Flames latest record ‘Battles’ here: 'Battles' Limited Edition Double Gatefold 180gm White Vinyl 'Battles' Limited Edition Double Gatefold 180 gm Picture Disc Vinyl 'Battles' Limited Edition Double Gatefold 180gm Green Vinyl 'Battles' Limited Edition Mail Order Box Set ‘Battles’ Limited Edition CD ‘Battles’ Digital Album Check out more recent In Flames videos ‘The Truth’ and ‘The End’.

ABOUT IN FLAMES:

Since forming in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1990, In Flames have had seven albums debut in the top ten in Sweden, including two #1 debuts. In Flames are world-renowned as one of the forefathers of melodic death metal, infamous for creating “The Gothenburg Sound”, which has paved the pathway for new sub-genres within metal. With 12 studio albums released and millions of records sold, In Flames have proven to be an unstoppable force in heavy music. They have toured the globe countless times, performing alongside some of today’s biggest rock and metal acts, including Metallica, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, and have held several mainstage and headline spots at various music festivals around the world from Ozzfest to Download and Rock Am Ring / Im Park, amongst many others. In Flames are a band that fans around the world can rely on, inspiring their fans, the “Jesterheads” to live by the phrase, “In Flames We Trust”.

For more information on In Flames:

http://www.inflames.com/

www.facebook.com/inflames

www.instagram.com/inflames

https://twitter.com/InFlames_SWE

#In Flames #five finger death punch #Nuclear Blast Records #of mice & men

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walterteng-blog · 8 years ago

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Ultimate (Exchange) Student Guide + Travel Tips! [University of Surrey x Nanyang Technological University EEE]

After more than 171 days away from home, I am finally back in time for the reunion dinner in homely Singapore which is nice! :) Back to the topic, this is a short guide that I decided to put together for the benefit of the students who are going to/ interested in going for an GEM exchange programme at University of Surrey(UoS). Writing this also serves a good time for me to reflect all the experiences and lessons learnt from my time at University of Surrey. Before I begin, I would like to mention that one of such article have been written before by getsurrey.co.uk which you can refer to as well. Academic: In case you are wondering, I am a EEE/3 student specializing in infocommunications and I did my Y3S1 at UoS. The 4 modules I took are: EEE2045 ELECTRICAL SCIENCE II Lectured by Dr David Carey and Prof Ravi Silva aka EE3001 ENGINEERING MICROMAGNETICS (4AU) - 100% Lecture and 100% 2 hour Written Paper. EEE3008 DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING A Lectured by Prof Mark Plumbley aka EE3014 DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING - 20% Weekly Flipped Classroom Assignments which are basically group presentations for your self learning of the new topic before the lectures. 80% 2 hour Written Paper - More theory explanations and derivations than calculations as compared to the usual NTU teaching style. - I realise there is a different syllabus for DSP B offered in Sem 2 while studying for my finals. I am not sure about this. EEE3033 RF AND MICROWAVE FUNDAMENTALS Lectured by Dr Peter Aaen and Dr Tim Brown aka EE4151 RF AND MICROWAVE ENGINEERING (3AU) - 20% Lab (Advanced Design System) and 80% 2 hour Written Paper - Really skeptical about taking this mod at first since I am taking Electromagnetics mod concurrently. - Lab was a little hard to grasp at first since the overall learning curve was pretty steep for me. - Glad that I have plenty of help from my EPS project mates :)

EEE3035 ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Lectured by Dr David Carey and Supervised by Prof Klaus Moessner aka EE3080 DESIGN & INNOVATION PROJECT (DIP, 2AU) - Probably biggest takeaway mod; an eye opener - Project on creating a wearable tech for the medical field with a group of 6 - Lectures on various industry standards was very insightful. Topics like technological adoption life cycle, hype curves and sustainability management are a few of the many materials covered. - The UoS students have stronger hands-on skills like coming out with PCB designs and testing. Their 1 year placement/internship really gave them an edge that I am still hoping to catch up on my own. - Learnt some EAGLE basics and reinforced my knowlege of 3D design which I self learnt prior to this. - Efficient use of team management apps like Slack which was also new to me. University of Surrey EEE Faculty was highly regarded in the UK and it is a real privilege to do an exchange programme there. As mentioned, the teaching approach is very different as compared to NTU. It is very vocal with its flipped classroom teaching and there is a lot of self learning to do here. I have to refer to the textbooks a lot here. However, there is a need to memorize essential formulas for the finals which I am not used to, since the formula booklets for NTU papers are specific to the mods and comprehensive.

Play (Travel): I went a 44 days pre-exchange trip with my friends from 8 August 2016 and we mainly covered the Scandinavian countries and Central Europe. I traveled on plenty of day trips around UK during the semester and explored the Eastern Europe during the winter vacation. I did a custom google maps to detail my travels and wrote about it a few times before. It can be overwhelming at first so it is easier to refer to the legend as a guide. Article and Legend WallEEExplore v17.01.21 Map

Helsinki, Finland (09 - 11 August 2016) Hameenlinna & Tampere (11 -12 August 2016) Turku, Finland (12-13 August 2016) Stockholm & Tyresta National Park, Sweden (14 - 17 August 2016) Norway Road Trip: Oslo Trolltunga Bergen Lysebotn Larvik, Norway (17 - 23 August 2016) Copenhagen, Denmark (24 - 27 August 2016) Aarhus, Denmark (27 -29 August 2016) Hamburg, Germany (29 Aug - 01 Sep 2016) Berlin, Germany (01 - 04 September 2016) Frankfurt, Germany (04 -07 September 2016) Luxembourg (07 - 09 September 2016) Brussels, Belgium (09 - 12 September 2016) Antwerp, Belgium (12 - 14 September 2016) Rotterdam, Netherlands (14 - 17 September 2016) The Hague, Netherlands (17 - 19 September 2016) Amsterdam, Netherlands (19 - 21 September 2016) London Day Trip (09 October 2016) Windsor Day Trip with Students’ Union (22 October 2016) Oxford Day Trip (23 October 2016) Woking Day Trip (02 November 2016) Bristol + Northern Ireland + Glastonbury & Wells (04 - 09 November 2016) Scotland(Glasgow & Edinburgh) Trip with Students’ Union (11 - 14 November 2016) Cambridge Day Trip (19 November 2016) Brighton Day Trip (26 November 2016) Paris + Disneyland (02 - 06 December 2016) Manchester + Lake District Road Trip (19 - 21 December 2016) Stonehenge + Bath Tour (23 December 2016) London (24 - 27, 30 - 31 December 2016) Prague, Czech Republic (01 - 04 January 2017) Salzburg + Hallstatt + Vienna, Austria (05 - 09 January 2017) Budapest, Hungary (10 - 12 January 2017)

It will take me a while or forever to ever write about the details of all the places I have been to, so if there is any particular places that you might want some tips or itinerary, do contact me directly. I don’t bite. :))

Here are some other custom maps I did during my researches for new places to go. These are mainly within the UK.

UK Top Places to Visit (Detailed)

Lake District Day Drive Trip

: This was meant for a day trip to the Lake District from Manchester during the winter when the daytime is short. Nonetheless, it is still recommended to spend more time there and go for a hike!

*** Tips for travelling around UK 1. Get a 16-25 Railway Card first! It cost £30 and it’ll save you 1/3 on rail fares. You’ll cover back that £30 in no time if you go for a lot of day trips. 2. Going for day trips with University of Surrey Students’ Union (SU) is a lot cheaper (even with a rail card). It is more worthwhile if they are able to get discounted admission tickets to castles etc. However, in my opinion, it is not recommended to go for a long trip with them though. You’re more restricted in terms of time and (super) long bus trips is tiring. :( 3. Generally, you can go for a day trip anywhere as long as the ride one way is about 3 hours or less. You’ll still have enough time to explore the city/town. Avoid going those that are far away during winter as you will have little day time. Unless you want to fork out more money to find accom. 4. Get advance tickets if you are able to plan about 2 weeks ahead. It can be very cheap. However, day trips tend to be impromptu, so super off-peak tickets bought on the day itself are your best bet. But still, try to plan ahead. 5. The best part of Guildford is that, London is just 40 - 60 mins away! A day travel zone tickets covers both your travel to and fro plus unlimited London tube travel! 6. Get an Oyster card if you travel to London a lot. Don’t forget to link it to 16-25 Rail card for 1/3 off. You have to go to any station and ask the station attendants to do that. Remember that daily fares caps are at about £6 or £ 6.45 and it costs nothing after that. UNLIMITED POWER~ 6. I prefer the National Rail app over Trainline cos it tends to be more detailed. But you will need trainline app if you want to buy tickets online.

Where to go in Guildford?: 1. Picinic / BBQ by the university lake 2. Short hikes / Picnics around town like The Mount, Pewley Downs, St Martha-on-the-hill, Guildford Castle 3. Tea Terrace at the top floors of House of Fraser 4. Bike / Walk along River Wey to nearby towns like Godalming, Shalford or the Riverside Park. Refer to this route guide.

Giffgaff or Three: Personally, I used giffgaff when I know I am not travelling out of UK for the month and Three if I am going to travel. Yes, in the end, I kept 2 UK lines since my android phone support dual sim anyway. Here is why: Giffgaff: Good: More data tiering than Three. You can buy data for 1, 2, 4 GB and so on, depending on your usage. Three only has 1GB and 12GB packages. (who uses 1 GB anyway?!) Three: Good: You can use your data in many other European countries. No more trying to connect wifi on the streets to upload your latest snaps or instagram stories. UNLIMITED POWER~ x2 Santander Basic or Current: Basic. I think it will still be confusing even if I explain the differences between the two here so, you should listen closely when you are at bank then. Here is the why: 1. You will get used to transferring money between your bank card and debit card in no time. 2. No £5/mo

BTW, remitting money from DBS to Santander is free and it offers the best exchange rate. It is almost instant during office hours (both UK and SG), but it can be a nightmare if you ran out of money and it is the weekend.

Food: There are food places like Young’s Kitchen, Hillside and some kebabs stalls nearby in school, but trust me, you will get used to cooking for every meal in the end. Deals varies from time to time in Tesco and Sainsburys’ but there are 2 things that are certain. 1. £2.50 - £3 B&J or Haagen Dazs is irresistible 2. Poundland for your snacks, chocolates and Haribos.

Useful Apps (Android): 1. National Rail / Trainline: For your railway timings etc 2. Santander: Banking 3. Giffgaff / Three: Check your data usage 4. Tube Map London: London tube can be confusing and there is no reception once you are inside! 5. Moovit: Shows transport route options in many European cities when Google Maps fails 6. Flixbus: Mostly used this bus service in Europe like Germany. Track its prices religiously if you desperately need a cheap getaway from studies to Paris Disneyland 7. Skyview Free: Just cos you tend to see more stars wherever you are in Europe than Singapore 8. Maps.me: If you need an alternative to Google Maps. However, I used Google Maps extensively by starring important places. You can label them for easy identification when your maps get too crowded.

Tip: Use location history in Google Maps to review the places you go before, in case you want to research further on the place you been to when you are back.

Tell me your experiences! : While I spent a rather fruitful time in UoS, I didn’t really join CCAs or had any sort of party life. Haha. I had plenty of the “chill in the kitchen/room” life though. Besides, my housemates kept telling Rubix, the school nightclub was always mediocre anyway. There are plenty of interesting CCAs in UoS like Equestrian Club, ABACUS, the Singaporeans Society or the SurreyEARS but I didn’t get myself to join in the end because: 1. You need Surrey Sports Park membership for sports CCA. 2. I want to travel around during my free time. Hope this guide have been useful so far and do share with me your exchange stories, I would love to listen to them! Go out there and create your own memories if you started your exchange!

PS. Pardon me for any major grammatical errors etc, I am writing this at 5am, Singapore time in the morning. Jetlag is hitting me pretty bad. Haiz.

[ Teng Kok Wai (Walter) - Nanyang Technological University x University of Surrey, Email: [email protected] EEE AY16/17 Y3S1]

#walleeexplore #singapore #united kingdom #guildford #university of surrey #surrey #ntu #exchange #academic #Nanyang Technological University #travel #student #survival guide #university #college life #thoughts #reflections #tips

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dailykhaleej · 5 years ago

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Air travel after COVID-19: The whole experience ‘will be as enjoyable as open-heart surgery’

The lengthy street again to resumption… UAE airways have given indicative dates for his or her companies to renew. Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej Archive

Dubai and London: For as lengthy as most of us can bear in mind, air travel hasn’t been a whole lot of enjoyable.

As airways crawl out of virus-lockdown mode, passengers can anticipate it to be much more of a bummer, with new temperature examine factors, strains of distancing folks stretching into the parking zone, and plexiglass limitations isolating baggage clerks, baristas, and different staffers.

Face masks and gloves will be de rigueur, disinfectants will be in every single place, and although many processes will be automated to attenuate human interplay, trade officers predict travel instances should enhance to accommodate the hygiene-inspired precautions.

“Going through an airport, the whole travel experience, will be as enjoyable as open-heart surgery,” says Paul Griffiths, CEOof Dubai Airports, whose employees put on disposable robes and security visors that would not look misplaced in a COVID-19 ward.

As governments draw up plans to get the world flying once more, proposals geared toward protecting passengers secure are sometimes complicated and contradictory – as an example protecting folks from sitting subsequent to one another on the departure gate however cramming them six or eight abreast for hours throughout a flight. And if applied long-term, executives say they might do virtually as a lot injury to airline and airport earnings as remaining closed altogether.

The 2-metre rule can be a stretch

Retaining 400 folks – the capability of many jumbo-jets – two meters from each other “means a queue of close to a kilometer, which fills up the departure hall and out into the car park,” says John Holland-Kaye, CEO of London’s Heathrow airport.

Imposing a two-meter rule may cut back the airport’s capability to 20 per cent of its standard degree, he says. “That’s not something we can keep doing until a vaccine comes along.”

As a substitute, Holland-Kaye says airports would do higher to display passengers for COVID-19 on the terminal entrance. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest hub, is testing a thermal detection system supposed to establish folks with the virus, expertise that is been utilized in Asia for years. The UK authorities, although, has but to endorse it.

Some carriers have already introduced they’re closing their slots at Heathrow. So much will now rely on how rapidly governments assist out struggling airways. File image of a tube platform at Heathrow. Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej Archive

Make finest use of house obtainable

At Frankfurt airport, Europe’s fourth-busiest, check-in counters, baggage-claim areas, and boarding-pass and safety checkpoints have been redesigned to make sure folks keep not less than 1.5 meters aside, with markings on the ground indicating the required distance. Lots of of posters and digital shows promote distancing, the PA system lights up each 5 minutes in a number of languages with bulletins on distancing guidelines, and skilled brokers stroll the halls to implement them.

Disinfectant dispensers are ubiquitous, and plastic shields have been put in wherever employees work together with clients.

This disaster is in contrast to something we have ever seen within the aviation enterprise. We’re coping with a monster

– Paul Griffiths, CEOof Dubai Airports

“We’ve put in place a good package of measures to reduce the risk of getting infected,” Matthias Zieschang, chief monetary officer of Fraport AG, the operator of the Frankfurt airport, stated.

At Amsterdam Schiphol, Europe’s No. three hub, each second check-in desk and departure gate is closed to attenuate mixing, and at baggage declare every flight will get its personal belt.

Munich has put in a merchandising machine shelling out masks, sanitary wipes, and disposable gloves. Helsinki airport, a significant crossroads for travel between Europe and Asia, gives masks for anybody who does not have one and requires folks assembly arriving passengers to remain of their vehicles or wait in a abandoned terminal constructing that has been idled.

Spray it down

At Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, alternating seats are blocked off. Cleansing employees spray the terminals with disinfectants each evening, and the elevator flooring are marked to make sure distancing”-allowing simply three folks in a spacious cabin.

At a pharmacy, there is a model sporting a masks and visor along with an inflatable neck pillow. And the airport is testing new Chinese language-made machines that may examine the temperatures of 16 folks per second as they go away baggage declare. Passengers with a fever will be pulled apart and given the choice of seeing the airport’s medical personnel and a fast COVID-19 diagnostic take a look at.

“If they refuse, that’s their choice,” says Edward Arkwright, deputy CEO of Aeroports de Paris. “We’re counting on individual freedom and a sense of responsibility. The aim is to put in place measures that will instill confidence so everyone feels they can travel safely.”

Air France’s fortunes have been buoyed by affirmation of a considerable authorities bundle. However how rapidly will travellers get again to flying? Picture Credit score: DailyKhaleej

Not potential within the air

What’s not possible, airways say, is obstructing off rows of seats aboard plane to take care of distancing at 38,000 toes. Such a transfer would do little to include the virus whereas hammering earnings at airways, the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation says. With center rows eliminated, single-aisle jets would fly not more than two-thirds full, whereas 70 per cent is required simply to breakeven, in accordance with the commerce group.

De facto distancing will occur anyway, says Jozsef Varadi, CEO of low-cost provider Wizz Air, as a result of few persons are prone to e book seats as soon as airways begin to develop their schedules once more. He says he has no plans to restrict the variety of passengers. Some vacationers, although, are already complaining that carriers are letting planes get too full.

“Airlines are in the business of delivering passenger health and safety, but also economic efficiency,” Varadi says. “We are not structurally looking to get rid of physical seats.”

As a substitute, carriers anticipate protecting gear, disinfectants, and restrictions on motion to maintain the virus from spreading. Varadi says his clients might want to cowl their faces all through the journey. Crew will don masks and gloves, meal service will be minimal, and contactless playing cards will be wanted for any purchases.

There’ll be no in-flight magazines or catalogs, and planes will be disinfected with an antiviral fog between journeys. And low-cost large Ryanair Holdings Plc says it’ll require passengers to make a particular request to make use of the bathroom to stop queuing within the aisles.

Self-checks

Some airports are inserting their hopes on a system that mixes screening with certificates displaying that the holder is both freed from the illness or has had it and is immune, as properly as contract-tracing that may enable circumstances to be tracked ought to a flare-up happen.

Vienna airport lets arriving passengers keep away from a 14-day authorities quarantine by present process a molecular-biological take a look at in a facility close to the airport. Departing passengers who’re examined can get a doc proving they’re virus-free to current to officers upon touchdown. However the take a look at should be booked days upfront, takes about three hours for outcomes, and at 190 euros prices greater than many flights.

For Dubai Airports chief Griffiths, all of it provides as much as a urgent want for a vaccine. Whereas the emergency measures being launched might assist increase passenger confidence, he says they don’t seem to be sustainable both for corporations or the touring public.

“This crisis is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the aviation business,” he says. “We’re dealing with a monster.”

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hauteroutehiking · 6 years ago

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Haute Route Trail Report

PREPARATION

The Haute Route hike kept coming up as one of the best hikes in Europe, as well as being recognized as the 'classic' Alps hike. I think every hiker is drawn to the Alps for its natural beauty and concentration of incredible trails that range in length and difficulty. Because of the 180km distance, we needed to find a sufficient time period over summer that would fit our work schedule. Luckily, in April 2017, Susan got a new career opportunity that gave us 2 weeks vacation between leaving London and relocating to Amsterdam. This was our window!

We started our detailed research by buying a guidebook and reading the many personal accounts online. The first challenge we faced was working out how we could complete the hike in 9 days, starting mid-June. The guide only presented a 14-day itinerary and we were unable to find an online account of someone that had completed the hike in the 9 days. Without having enough detailed trail information to create an evenly spread hiking plan, we decided to double up 10 of the 14 days in the guidebook.

The second challenge was securing alpine hut accommodation for our itinerary. Most of the huts do not have booking, availability or opening times available online. Some of the websites and contact details weren’t in English, so this added another level of complexity! After many hours of research and back-and-forth in broken French & German, we were able to book 7 of our 9 nights. Given we weren't taking our camping gear and some parts of the trail are very remote, we were concerned that closed huts could prevent us from completing the hike. We decided to visit tourist information offices along the way to determine if the remaining huts were open.

Armed with the best hiking plan possible we packed our bags and headed for the Alps.

There are already many great trail reports from fellow hikers, recounting the details of their trips. Rather than following the same approach for my report, I've decided to focus on the four challenges we faced and what we did at the time to overcome them. I hope this gives you some ideas if you face similar circumstances on the trail and the background to why I've created the various solutions to help future hikers better prepare and hike the Haute Route with confidence.

OUR SELF GUIDED ITINERARY

Our plan to hike the Haute Route by combining stages outlined in the guidebook, lead us to have 3 days of 30km+. Although we’ve regularly hiked this distance in a day, we haven’t done back-to-back days over a longer period. This worried us in the lead up to the hike.

However, as we travelled along the Haute Route, we discovered a lot of open huts and different trail options. If we had more detailed information while planning our hike, we would have been able to build an itinerary that was more evenly spread.

Our original 9-day itinerary was as follows:

Day 1: Chamonix to Refuge Les Grands

Day 2: Refuge Les Grands to Champex (via Fenetre d’Arpette)

Day 3: Champex to Cabane Mont Fort

Day 4: Cabane Mont Fort to Cabane De Prafleuri (via Col Termin)

Day 5: Cabane De Prafleuri to La Sage (via Col De Riedmatten)

Day 6: La Sage to Cabane De Moiry (via Col de Torrent)

Day 7: Cabane De Moiry to Gruben (via Forcletta)

Day 8: Gruben to Grachen

Day 9: Grachen to Zermatt (via Europaweg)

Keep reading below for accommodation details and why we ended up staying in Verbier and Refuge La Barma on our third and fourth night instead of the Cabanes listed above.

The major implication to our trip was that the swing bridge on the Europaweg was not yet being built! We didn’t want to miss hiking the Europaweg as this was one of the sections that hikers raved over. So we decided to still do the Europaweg trail until the Europahut and then head down the valley to continue up to Zermatt. We found some information online before our trip that said this was possible, however, we weren't aware that it would add 4 hours to our day! Hiking up the valley floor into Zermatt wasn’t ideal as it was near the road and train line. Therefore I definitely recommend hikers complete the full Europaweg now that the swingbridge is built.

Despite Europe having a mild 2016/17 winter, we still had snow on nearly all of our mountain passes. It wasn’t enough to change our planned route, however, we did need to use our crampons coming over Fenetre d’Arpette and climbing up to Cabane De Moiry. I recommended hikers take crampons with them whenever they have decided to complete the Haute Route, given it can snow at any time of the year in high alpine areas.

As I hiked along in 2017 (and subsequently 2018), I recorded detailed information on all the subsections of the trail. I’ve now created a tool for hikers to plan their itinerary with more accommodation options and alternate routes to meet their needs. Click here to find out more details on what I've done.

MAPS AND DIRECTIONS

As this hike did not require any wilderness or alpine route finding, we decided to use a guidebook and trail signs, rather than also bringing topographical maps. We felt this was appropriate after reading many times during our research that the Alp trail system is one of the best in the world with fantastic signage. What the online comments fail to mention, is that the Haute Route is not marked on any of the 180km trail. Yes, you heard right, it does not have dedicated markings or signage. There is a maze of trails through the Alps and unlike the Tour Du Mont Blanc, that has its own symbol painted along the trail, the Haute Route picks and chooses from the variety of trails to enable hikers to travel from Chamonix to Zermatt. Hikers will always need to know the next village/peak/point of interest to use the signs effectively.

Wading through the guidebook text usually helped with this, however, sometimes the descriptions weren't enough for us, particularly when trying to find our way out of towns. Small yellow triangle or diamond signs with a picture of a walking person are provided in towns. These confirm you are on a walking trail, but it doesn’t tell you which trail. After navigating the high alpine, we thought this would be the easy part but, embarrassingly, this is where we would often get lost! Thankfully, we had a mobile data package so would use Google maps to navigate our way through the towns. The same cannot be said for all hiker though. I met a couple from the USA who became lost navigating their way out of Sembrancher using only the guide and signs. They added an extra 2 hours and 500m ascent to their day. Needless to say they were tired and frustrated by the time they reached Verbier!

We found that fellow Haute Route hikers brought with them an overload of information to compensate not having one trusted source. Their arsenal included guidebooks (sometimes multiple!), topographic maps, GPS trackers and printed out notes from online blogs/resources. Comparing and contrasting this information was time-consuming and confusing when all you really want to know is whether to go left or right!

The other challenge we faced was planning our water re-fill points, bathroom breaks and food stops. Some of this information was listed in the guide, however, you need to keep wading through the text to find it and then try to estimate how far it is from your location. This brought us unstuck on one of our ~30km double stages from Refuge La Barma to Le Sage. I ran out of water as we climbed up the hot boulder field to Col de Reidmatten. Unfortunately, the glacial streams noted in the guide were filled with rock flour from the erosion so I chose not to refill. The next spot for water was on the way down to Arolla, but the damage had already been done. I was hit by a combination of heat stroke and dehydration which lead to a very uncomfortable afternoon and evening. It was my own fault for not being more prepared for that section, however, it made me think that there must be a better way to help hikers see the location of important points on the trail like water refill locations.

With advances in mobile phones and mapping technology, there is a better way to present the key information and directions for the Haute Route. Click here to learn about the offline mobile maps we've created to help future hikers.

SHORTCUTS

I had never taken a shortcut when hiking before, however, I hadn't completed a hike as long as the Haute Route either. With 3 days of ~30kms in distance, we weren't sure how we'd cope. As our bodies began to tire over the first few days, we decided to look for opportunities to either shorten or shortcut our days. This was difficult to do on the trail as we didn't always have an internet connection or could confidently translate remote timetables into English.

Our first shortcut opportunity was a blessing after finding out that Cabane Du Mont Fort was closed. This meant we had to stay in Verbier instead, which added appropriately 8km and a 700m climb to the following day. We discovered that a gondola was running from Verbier to Les Ruinettes which would cut out most of this additional distance and elevation gain. However, it did come with the catch of only running for 15min at 10.30am. Considering we were aiming to make it to Refuge La Barma for that night, this was a late start but we thought the legs would appreciate it in the end.

On another one of our 30km days, we weren't as successful with our shortcut. We wanted to catch a bus from parking Du Glacier (near Cabane De Moiry) to Zinal in order to reduce the day to 5-6 hours instead of 10-12 hours. Our translation of the bus timetable wasn't good enough as we discovered that it actually hadn't started running for the summer season. The best we could do was a hitchhike along Lac De Moiry to cut off about 4kms from a lovely German filmmaker who was taking some drone footage of the glacier. This short hitchhike helped us make it to Gruben, just in time for dinner.

Having an uneven hiking itinerary caused us to look for shortcuts, however, others we met used them to rest their tired legs, avoid wet weather or simply give themselves more time on remote parts of the trail when hiking up or down ski-hills. Fellow hikers wished they had information on shortcuts ahead of time rather than stumbling upon opportunities or desperately searching for them when in need. Click here if you want to see what we'have done to make this information available.

ACCOMMODATION

Due to hiking in mid-June, securing accommodation was difficult in some spots. As I mentioned above, most of the alpine huts do not have ways for hikers to check availability and book online. This meant it took a lot of time and effort to secure each nights accommodation via email or phone, sometimes only in French/German. The tricky bit is the juggling act to check the availability of all your selected alpine huts, adjust hiking dates due to some being closed or fully booked on your target night, recheck availability of others with new dates...and repeating until you've booked a series of dates that line up with your hiking plan.

We secured most of our nights ahead of time, however, did not receive a reply from Cabane Du Mont Fort and Cabane De Prafleuri. The tourist information office in Verbier told us that Cabane Du Mont Fort wasn't open yet, although they didn't know about Cabane De Prafleuri. We adjusted our plan to stay in Verbier and take a shortcut the next day, however, we headed for Cabane De Prafleuri without knowing if we could stay there. Our backup options were to come down to Grande Dixence where there was a hotel or continue on to Cabane des Ecoulaies or Refuge la Barma. Chatting with others coming towards us on the trail, we were told the Refuge La Barma was open so decided to head there. In the end, it turned out that both Cabane Du Mont Fort and Cabane De Prafleuri also had winter rooms open where fellow hikers had stayed in, so we could have stuck with our original plan.

The lack of consolidated information online made the booking process harder than it needed to be, as well as caused us to carry risk in our itinerary that we wouldn't be able to stick to our overall plan. It's not easy for some for refuges to bring their availability and booking systems online but click here to find out what we're doing to help future hikers with this process.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Haute Route is the best multi-day hike I have done and lives up to its reputation as one of the top in Europe. Check out more photos from our trip in the gallery.

You can certainly complete it with the current resources available and information you cobble together online. Our trip in 2017 and the many other personal blogs you've read are testaments to that!

But just because it is possible, does not mean that you need to settle for carrying the same uncertainty we did into your trip. I have the best hiking experiences when I'm confident in my daily itinerary and trail information in my hand. Not when I am worried about getting lost, whether my plan is achievable and not knowing if I'll have a place to sleep at night! I've tried to do something about it and am keen to share it with others so they can hike the Haute Route with confidence.

I'm giving everything away for free until the end of October 2018 in return for feedback, improvement suggestions and words of encouragement, so I know the effort has been worthwhile!

Happy Hiking

Brendan

#hiking #chamonix #zermatt #montblanc #matterhorn #walkershauteroute #hauteroute #backpacking #multidayhike #thruhike #hikinglife #europaweg #switzerland #swissalps #swissmountains

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topfygad · 5 years ago

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Unknown treks: 10 off the beaten trail adventures

These unknown treks can be proper up your path, from crossing deserts to polar expeditions.

Naturally, this impressed daydreams of escaping all of it and operating off to the wilderness with solely my backpack, tent, tenting range and a handful of freeze-dried meals.

In both case, I’ve advised operators that may coordinate the logistics of accessing these distant areas, leaving you to benefit from the breathtaking surroundings.

1. Higher Mustang Trek, Nepal

Distance: 185km (115mi) Period: 12-14 days

Dreamstime The Higher Mustang is considered one of Nepal’s extra unknown treks

Alongside the path there are alternatives to go to among the oldest Buddhist monasteries in Nepal in addition to the mysterious Kali Gandaki caves. Extra info: Lively Adventures

2. Lut Desert Trek, Iran

Distance: 200km (125mi) Period: 10 days

Hadi Karimi/CC by 2.0 The lunar-esque panorama of the Lut

Extra info: Secret Compass

3. Lake Baikal Trek, Russia

Distance: 50km (31mi) Period: Three days

Sergey Gabdurakhmanov/ CC by 2.0 Lake Baikal in southern Siberia, Russia

Extra info: Baikal Journey

4. Angelus Circuit, New Zealand

Distance: 39km (24mi) Period: 2-Three days

Dreamstime NZ’s South Island accounts for only a quarter of the nation’s inhabitants

Extra info: Lively Adventures

5. Arctic Circle Path, Greenland

Distance: 165km (103mi) Period: 9-11 days

Atlas & Boots Innajuattoq Lake on the Arctic Circle Path

Extra info: learn our article on trekking the Arctic Circle Path

6. Sarek Nationwide Park, Sweden

Distance: 100km (63mi) Period: 10 days

Dreamstime Sweden’s Lapland is a survivalist’s dream

Extra info: Nature Travels

7. Tigray Area, Ethiopia

Distance: 15km (9mi) Period: 1-2 days

Atlas & Boots On our technique to Maryam Korkor in Tigray

Extra info: learn our article on climbing in Tigray

8. Mount Cameroon, Cameroon

Distance: 38km (24mi) Period: Three days

Initsogan/CC by 2.0 Mount Cameroon is commonly ignored

It’s a shorter and fewer strenuous trek than the upper mountains of East Africa and has the additional advantage of ending on the charming seaside city of Limbe.

If you happen to’re feeling a bit extra adventurous then each February there’s the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope footrace, the place members full the return journey in simply 4.5 hours!

Extra info: Mount Cameroon Tour

9. Tune Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan

Distance: 36km (27mi) Period: 3-Four days

Peretz Partensky/CC by 2.0 Kyrgyzstan is residence to a number of unknown treks

Extra info: Silk Highway Discover

10. K2 Base Camp Trek, Pakistan

Distance: 160km (100mi) Period: 14 days

Atlas & Boots K2 seen from Concordia camp

Extra info: learn our article on the K2 base camp trek

Lead picture: Dreamstime

source http://cheaprtravels.com/unknown-treks-10-off-the-beaten-trail-adventures/

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rickhorrow · 6 years ago

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15 TO WATCH/5 SPORTS TECH/POWER OF SPORTS 5: RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 24

with Jamie Swimmer & Jacob Aere

Tiger Woods wins his first PGA Tour event in five years, and with the victory will not only be the main storyline at this week’s Ryder Cup, but the focus of the 2019 golf season to come. More immediately, the Ryder Cup is becoming "the biggest one-off weekend in sport," as rivals U.S. and Europe "join forces to offer new global commercial deals" worth in excess of $261.5 million, according to the London Telegraph. Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA "are breaking with tradition by combining efforts to lure new worldwide sponsors, a move which industry experts predict" will send profits surging. Partially thanks to Woods’ resurgence, record numbers "are due to follow the action" at Le Golf National, near Paris, starting Friday. In previous years, "sponsors have been put off big-money global deals because they have been forced to negotiate" with marketing execs on both sides of the Atlantic. However, this year UPS was named the tournament's second "global partner" in its history. There are currently 34 Ryder Cup partners, suppliers, and licensees. The average price per sponsor for the event in Europe is around $2.6 million, while in the U.S. it is closer to $5.2 million – largely because of the big money deals top PGA Tour pros, including Woods, command.

The City of Pittsburgh, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and Dan Towriss, CEO of Group1001, have announced plans to design and construct a new youth athletic field in honor of Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin. Located near the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh where Martin grew up, the new multi-sport synthetic turf field will be used for football, soccer, and baseball/softball and provide local youth with a safe place to play. The new field will be made possible thanks in part to a generous $5 million donation to the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation from Towriss and Group1001, used to build a total of ten Youth Development Parks over five years in 10 cities across the country. Each field will receive up to $500,000 in funding from Group1001 and will support the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation's MLB RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Inner City) partnership, designed to provide baseball and softball league-play for underserved youth, as well as other youth-serving organizations. The Stargell Field revitalization project comes after three years of planning by grassroots organization Homewood Community Sports (HCS), which has been in existence since the 1960s. As the NFL regular season settles in and baseball heads to the playoffs, the timing of this game-changing announcement couldn’t be more appropriate.

Fort Lauderdale will be the first stop on the FIVB Beach Major Series tour for the second straight year. The fifth edition of the Major Series kicks of February 5-10 and continues throughout the summer. In 2018, Fort Lauderdale watched as hometown stars Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena topped the podium alongside Brazil’s Barbara Seixas de Freitas and Fernanda Alves. “Fort Lauderdale is probably currently the best spot in the Beach Major Series,” Hannes Jagerhofer, CEO of the Beach Major Series said ahead of the 2018 event. “We can find here everything for a recipe for success.” Next up on the slate is the World Championships June 28-July 7 at Rothenbaum Stadium in Hamburg, Germany, the site of the last two World Tour Finals. The 48-team event will bring the elite of the world to the tournament, where an automatic berth to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is on the line. The final stop of 2019 is Danube Island in Vienna, home of the 2017 World Championships. Beginning with Fort Lauderdale, the FIVB series joins the pantheon of eagerly-awaited mega events in South Florida and beyond.

The newly-created NFL Hall of Fame Board is demanding proper compensation for years of service. According to JohnWallStreet, board Chairman Eric Dickerson penned a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, and HOF President David Baker “demanding health insurance and an annual salary (i.e. share of league revenue) for the Hall’s living alumni.” The letter notes that instead of enjoying a peaceful life in retirement, many of the NFL’s greatest players have struggled with financial and health issues since retiring from the league. The letter was signed by more than 20 of football’s greats, including Jim Brown and Jerry Rice, and threatened that a failure to meet the stated demands would result in “many high-profile players abstaining from future Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.” The NFL generated $14 billion in revenue last season and the Hall of Fame Board claims that without them, the league would not be what it is today. “Simply looking at it from a cost standpoint, to insure every living hall of fame player would cost the league just $4 million/year or the equivalent of $0.03 for every $100 generated.” However, several HOF members, including Rice, have claimed they never signed the letter and refuse to move forward unless health and other benefits are extended to all NFL alums, not just Hall of Famers. Stay tuned.

Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Hornets are stepping up to help the community following Hurricane Florence’s devastation of North and South Carolina. According to the Charlotte Observer, Jordan is donating $1 million to the Red Cross and another $1 million to the Foundation for the Carolinas Florence Response Fund. The Red Cross is "providing food and shelter to those displaced by the storm," while the FCFRF "directs funds to non-profits in North and South Carolina.” Jordan hopes that his money will not only help with immediate relief, but will go toward addressing the “long-term effects on people all over the Carolinas whose lives have been changed for the worse.” "People need to understand this will not be a week-long process,” said Jordan. “This is going to have a huge disruption on people's lives — not for 10 days, but for years.” In addition to pledging money, more than 100 members of the Hornets organization will help package disaster food boxes for those in need around the region. Hands-on response has also been pledged by the Carolina Panthers, the NFL, and multiple college programs in the region.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has agreed to contribute $10 million toward women’s organizations in the wake of an investigation into the team’s workplace. According to ESPN.com, the NBA launched the investigation just over half a year ago after allegations of harassment and violence toward female employees came forward. A report in Sports Illustrated described "a corporate culture rife with misogyny and predatory sexual behavior that spanned decades in the Mavericks' organization, including numerous allegations against former CEO and President Terdema Ussery, who left the Mavericks in 2015.” The investigation saw an outside law firm speak to 215 current and former Mavericks employees and concluded that the team’s management “was ineffective, including a lack of compliance and internal controls.” Cuban spoke emotionally in an interview, saying, “It just never in my wildest dreams that I think that this was happening right underneath me. And I never — the pain that people went through, the pain that people shared with me as this happened, the tears that I saw…It just — it hurt.” There is no place for harassment in any industry – including the male-dominated sports world – and it’s gratifying to see the long-progressive NBA take an unsparing leadership role as more #MeToo investigations come to light.

Despite inking a deal to play a regular season match in the United States, La Liga still might not be allowed to do so. According to ESPN.com, the 15-year joint venture signed between La Liga and Relevant, a multinational media, sports, and entertainment group, in August is up in the air pending FIFA’s approval. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed doubt about Barcelona and Girona playing in Miami this January after admitting that “the idea is not appealing to him.” “I would prefer to see a great MLS game in the U.S. rather than La Liga being in the U.S.,” noted Infantino. “In football, the general principle is that you play a 'home' match at 'home,' and not in a foreign country.” News of the deal stirred up excitement in the United States, but drew heavy criticism from La Liga players and the club’s domestic fan base — much uncertainty remains.

The Las Vegas Golden Knights have signed the first team sponsorship deal with a bookmaking company. According to SportsBusiness Journal, Las Vegas-based William Hill U.S. is teaming up with the NHL’s newest and hottest team — a “historic, and fitting, marriage between the first global sportsbook to enter the U.S. market and the first major sports franchise to make the world's gaming capital its home.” Neither side would confirm the financial value of the partnership, though it is a multiyear and non-exclusive contract. The Golden Knights have made a conscious effort to keep a diverse sponsorship portfolio, going beyond the assumed ties they would have with Las Vegas bookmakers and gambling entities. "We hope people will be sitting at T-Mobile and betting between periods," said William Hill U.S. CEO Joe Asher. "Frankly, we know they do that already. We're hoping to be able to get more people to our site because the brand will be right there in front of them." How far we’ve come – it was only a few short years ago that people swore Vegas would never have a pro sports team due to the gambling stigma.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are preparing to unveil a newly-renovated Quicken Loans Arena. According to Crain’s Cleveland Business, the Cavs have followed a league-wide trend by reducing their capacity to “the mid-19,000 range,” down from a previous 20,562. Only five NBA arenas can hold more than 20,000 these days — The United Center in Chicago (20,917), Little Caesars Arena in Detroit (20,491), Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (20,356), the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia (20,328), and Quicken Loans Arena. The renovations are expected to cost $185 million in total after the team committed another $45 million toward upgrades — $115 million of which will be covered by the Cavs. The additional $45 million boost will go directly toward a “total overhaul” of the team’s locker room, which will be ready before the start of the new season. Cavs Executive VP of Communications Tad Carper said that the project "did not generate" $45 million in cost overruns, but rather that the team "opted to invest the extra money to improve upon the already-planned upgrades. From cutting edge uniforms to first class locker rooms, amenities matter to players and prospects, and the Cavs have clearly paid attention.

10.The Portland Trail Blazers are now the 24th team in the NBA to sign a jersey patch sponsor, reaching a multiyear agreement with Illinois-based Performance Health. According to the Oregonian, Performance Health’s pain relief product Biofreeze will be featured on the breast of Blazer jerseys this year, while also appearing on practice jerseys and on the team’s Summer League uniforms. Despite “flirting with multiple partners” last year, the Blazers decided to wait to find the right fit for their first jersey patch sponsor. Performance Health currently holds sponsorship deals “with tennis player Sloane Stephens; Gold Medal-winning U.S. snowboarder Shaun White; multiple MLB teams including the Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants and Yankees; and marquee marathons in San Francisco, New York, and Chicago.” Financials around the deal have not yet been released, but such deals have proven to be lucrative for teams, the NBA and sponsors alike; during last year’s pilot program, the NBA generated around $137 million while sponsors “have earned nearly three times that on social media alone.” As NBA teams report to camp on Tuesday, look for all 30 NBA squads to have jersey patch deals by the 2019-2020 season a year from now.

The inaugural Racquet & Paddle Sports Conference will be held January 23-25 and co-located with the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. The multi-faceted tennis, racquet, and paddle sports event will feature a hands-on product demo experience and opening welcome party at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona; and a curated ONE2ONE buying summit, Tennis Owners & Managers (TOM) Conference, and an exhibit pavilion of racquet, paddle and tennis vendors and organizations at the Orange County Convention Center. The Racquet & Paddle Sports Conference, while co-located with the PGA Merchandise Show at the OCCC, will be a stand-alone event. A significant number of PGA Merchandise Show attendees representing golf and resort properties also have an interest in racquet sports offerings. The PGA Merchandise Show, called the “Major” of Golf Business, draws more than 40,000 influential PGA Professionals, manufacturing executives, VIP retailers, international industry leaders, and top-decision makers. Look for tennis and other racquet sports to benefit.

12.Amazon is taking another step to establish itself in the sports world after acquiring the title sponsorship rights to the 40th IRONMAN World Championship. According to JohnWallStreet, Amazon will now serve as the Official Sports Nutrition Retailer of the “iconic endurance event” taking place October 13th in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. This comes as a departure from Amazon’s traditional pathway into sports, which has been about acquiring exclusive and non-exclusive streaming rights across an array of events domestically and internationally. NBC Sports platforms, ironman.com, and IRONMAN NOW on Facebook Watch all have select broadcast and streaming rights for the event, leaving Amazon off the table in this instance. IRONMAN was bought by Dalian Wanda Group back in 2015 for $650 million and bolsters a sponsorship portfolio consisting of companies like Amazon, Marriott, Gatorade, and United Health Care. With Amazon signing on as the official title sponsor, business for IRONMAN continues to boom.

13.The Philadelphia 76ers have hired former NBAer Elton Brand as their new General Manager. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers chose to stay in-house with the hire to replace Bryan Colangelo, promoting Brand from his previous role as VP/Basketball Operations and General Manager of the G League Delaware Blue Coats. Brand’s appointment caps a wild 23 month period; he went from playing for the 76ers and coach Brett Brown to being his peer to now being his boss. The move has drawn both praise and scrutiny from observers, as Brand has no previous front office experience for such a role. After conducting second interviews with Utah Jazz GM Justin Zanik and Houston Rockets Executive VP/Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas, 76ers ownership "believed Brand had sold them on vision, preparedness and the ability to grow into the role at a crucial time for the organization.” While not necessarily a part of their famed “process,” with all the management turmoil the franchise has faced it’s not surprising they tapped one of their own for this critical role.

The NHL is intent on breaking into the Chinese market going forward. According to the New York Times, the Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames recently concluded their trip to the Asian country as part of the 2018 ORG NHL China Games, which consisted of one game in Shenzhen and another in Beijing. The NHL has long since lagged behind the NBA in terms of tapping into the Chinese market with its nearly 1.4 billion residents. NHL Exec VP/Media and International Strategy David Proper said that if hockey "grows in China over the next decade 'to a point where it’s not NBA level but something significant, well then we may reassess not just growing the sport but how to build our business.’” Growing the sport in China will not only bode well for the NHL and its business, but for building momentum ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics that are set to be staged in Beijing.

South and North Korea have officially agreed to place a bid to co-host the 2032 Summer Olympics. According to Yonhap, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jung-un recently met in the North’s capital of Pyongyang where the matter was discussed. As part of the plan to show peace and unity on the Korean Peninsula, the two nations will form “more unified teams at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and other international competitions,” building from the joint ice hockey team that was fielded at this year’s PyeongChang Winter Olympics. “We sincerely wish that these political talks produce the necessary progress for a successful candidature,” commented IOC President Thomas Bach. “Sport could once more make a contribution to peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world.” Nations around the world have been reluctant as of late to bid on the Olympics due to “rising costs and lack of domestic support,” which could give the joint Korean bid a greater chance of success. Once again, sport may play a critical role in the greater good of world peace and prosperity.

Tech Top Five

New York Giants wide receiver superstar, Odell Beckham Jr., has his own Facebook Watch reality show. The show, “I Am More: OBJ,” is produced by Uninterrupted, the sports-media company founded by LeBron James and business partner Maverick Carter. The NFL Pro Bowler takes center stage in the series which now streams exclusively on Facebook every Friday during the NFL football season. According to Variety, the 16-episode series, which began on September 14, will follow the wide receiver throughout the 2018 season and promises an inside look at his weekly prep routine before each game; his recovery from last year’s injury; and his life off the field. Beckham Jr. also plans to use Facebook Live throughout the season to share his thoughts after each matchup and answer questions from fans. He’ll deliver behind-the-scenes content on Facebook-owned Instagram in between weekly episodes of “I Am More: OBJ,” and is Facebook’s latest sports star after running similar series on athletes including Tom Brady and Dwyane Wade.

UEFA’s marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein reveals that UEFA is developing its own Over the Top streaming service. It is expected that the OTT service will provide more airtime for categories like women's soccer and futsal. According to SportsPro, the high-income entities such as the Champions League and Europa League will remain in the hands of major broadcasting networks as they account for the majority of UEFA’s revenue. Despite not wanting to take live coverage away from traditional broadcasters, Epstein encouraged that the new platform could be used to house additional programming, content, and features. He sees it as a means to communicate with fans who might not be able to watch games on pay-TV and hopes to include summaries, delayed games, backstage pictures, grassroots competitions, and the aforementioned women's soccer and futsal matchups. Epstein also pointed to the fact that an in-house streaming platform would open up a new revenue stream for UEFA, creating an additional opportunity for interested brands to attach their name to the organization.

According to Sports Techie, a new feature has debuted for CBS Sports Fantasy Football that will offer voice-enabled lineup advice on which fantasy players to draft, start, add, or trade through Google Assistant. CBS Sports Fantasy football players will be able to receive personalized lineup advice and information tailored to their teams beginning in October, which includes score updates, value comparisons of players, reports on bench or waiver wire players, and injury updates. The mission of the Google Assistant and CBS Sports Fantasy partnership is to cut down on fantasy players’ time and eliminate the difficulty of searching for draft and lineup advice across multiple sources. Voice-enabled artificially-intelligent home assistants, such as Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, are nudging their way into the world of sports. With this latest product coming in a new era of legalized gambling, the potential of its fantasy suggestions could help users make real-money wagers.

A new iPhone app uses just augmented reality and a smartphone for players to improve their jump shot. HomeCourt, an iPhone app which Apple recently announced, uses augmented reality to track basketball shots and artificial intelligence technology developed by HomeCourt maker Nex Team to detect a hoop and basketball which then measures kinematics, trajectory, release times, and number of shots made. According to GeekWire, Apple even brought out former NBA star point guard Steve Nash and Nex Team founder David Lee to unveil the app on stage. Nash is an investor in HomeCourt, as are other NBA affiliates including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeremy Lin, and former Philadelphia 76ers GM Sam Hinkie. Apple is investing heavily in augmented reality tech and expects to see basketball game play at all levels improved directly from their cutting edge technology.

5. DAZN stamps a landmark deal with Combate Americas, the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise. The deal will bring a minimum of 13 fight nights per year to the live and on-demand sports streaming platform. According to Business Wire, DAZN is now the exclusive home of Combate Americas' English-language broadcasts in the United States and Canada with the first match having streamed live from Phoenix on September 14. This deal will bring the action-packed Combate Americas to English-language viewers for the first time. DAZN, the monster OTT platform, now sits at 80+ fight nights per year following the announcement of deals across Matchroom Boxing, Bellator MMA, World Boxing Super Series, and the most recent Combate Americas agreement. The platform is slowly swallowing the Boxing and MMA on-demand markets and has left little room for other players to make a name for themselves in the OTT fight landscape.

Power of Sports Five

1. The Baltimore Orioles embedded themselves in history by wearing Braille jerseys. On September 18, the Baltimore Orioles’ orange and black uniform had the addition of Braille letters to replace the script on the front and back of their jerseys. The jerseys were worn in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the National Federation of the Blind moving their national headquarters to Baltimore and were autographed, authenticated, and auctioned off for charity after the game. According to Yahoo! Sports, this moment marked the first time that a professional U.S. sports team has worn Braille-lettered uniforms during and after a game. In addition to the jerseys, the Orioles’ starting lineup graphic was also in Braille; attendees were given a Braille alphabet card before the game; Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, threw out the first pitch; and Carlos Ibay, a blind concert pianist, sang the national anthem. To commemorate this moment, one of the historic jerseys was sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

2. Brazilian soccer icon Pelé announces the launch of his new charitable foundation. The Pelé Foundation aims to empower children by covering topics of poverty and education. According to Business Wire, The foundation is partnering with Pencils of Promise and charity: water in its first year to fulfill that mission. After his international soccer stardom, Pele has the capital to use his firsthand experience of growing up in a neighborhood that lacked resources to give back. His charity has allocated funds to ensure the expansion of PoP’s innovative Teacher Support program to improve reading fluency and comprehension for hundreds of students in Guatemala. The foundation also looks to provide as many children as possible with access to clean water. In future years, the Pele Foundation will look at opportunities to create their own programs and expand their efforts to empower children, including issues regarding gender equality.

3. Vegas Golden Knights players walk the runway to support their local community. Amidst the middle of pre-season games, multiple players from the recent NHL expansion team took a break from their skates and threw on their finest threads for the first-ever Vegas Strong Charity Fashion Show. VIPs at the event were able to bid the suit jacket designs right off of the Vegas Golden Knights’ backs. According to the ABC Vegas affiliate, KTNV, the events’ proceeds went to Route 91 Strong, a non-profit that provides financial assistance to survivors of last year's mass shooting there. Participating Golden Knights players included Alex Tuch, Pierre Bellemare, Ryan Reaves, Oscar Lindberg, William Karlsson, Deryk Engelland, and Jonathan Marchessault. The Knights’ continued support has helped unify Las Vegas in the wake of great tragedy and helped the team grow a faithful fan base.

4. In the weeks after Colin Kaepernick’s historic endorsement deal with Nike, the ex-49ers quarterback has sold out of his custom jerseys to raise money for charity. The jerseys, which are not made by Nike, were announced with a limited quantity. According to CBS Sports, the NFL lookalike jerseys sold out on his website within hours of announcement. The jerseys are a simple, flat black and have Kaepernick's name and No. 7 on the back, with "#IMWITHKAP" inscribed on the front. Originally, Kaepernick said that 20% of proceeds would go to the Know Your Rights Camp, but after the rapid sellout, he instead announced that all proceeds would go to the campaign. With Kaepernick’s million dollar pledge to charity earlier in the year, his groundbreaking Nike deal, and his spotlight in American politics, it's been a year that seems to only keep growing for the Kaepernick name and brand. The ex-quarterback is changing the landscape of politics in sports and has built himself one of the most unforgettable reputations in recent sports history.

5. Manchester United's Juan Mata awarded the 2017 Nations Sports Award in Spain after raising almost $800,000 for charity. The 30-year-old Mata celebrated the first year of his launch of the Common Goal charity last month, which has raised nearly $800,000 since its inception. According to ESPN, the noble gesture of the Spanish midfielder’s charity is for himself and fellow footballers to donate 1% of their salaries throughout their careers to charities across the world. To date, more than 50 players and coaches including Giorgio Chiellini, Mats Hummels, Alex Morgan, and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin have contributed to Mata's mission. Spain's Sports Council’s Nations Sports Award is given to sports personalities, organizations, and corporations that have stood out for their passion and promotion of sport. As Mata’s pledge to humanity continues to spread across the soccer world, it brings comfort to know that other charitable sports figures including tennis legend Rafael Nadal, professional golfer Jon Rahm, and Karate star Sandra Sanchez will also be awarded by the Council for their unmistakable dedication to philanthropy.

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