Greg Sterling, a contributing editor at the website Search Engine Land, said the result suggests that “so many people are using the words ‘racist’ or ‘racism’ to respond to or describe Donald Trump, or there’s a concerted effort to associate Trump’s account with those terms.”Evidently, it is also possible that a large number of supporters defending Trump from charges of racism would also use the word ‘racist’ in their replies. Sterling said Twitter’s ranking algorithm for individual tweets “uses a variety of signals, including how recently the tweet was published, its relevance (personalization), user engagement with the tweet, the presence of rich media (such as video or images) and several other variables.”The analyst noted however that in 2007, a concerted effort known as “Google bombing” was able to manipulate search results for then-president George W. Bush to associate him with the term “miserable failure” on the search engine until the flaw was corrected.Kjerstin Thorson, a Michigan State University politics and social media professor, said it would require a detailed analysis to understand the reasons for the association of Trump and racism.But Thorson said “it’s not unlikely this could be an accurate representation of what people are saying” on Twitter and that bias is probably not a factor.”The platforms have gone out of their way to avoid any appearance of bias,” she said. Analysts said the news suggests Trump opponents, more than critics of any other Twitter account, have been labeling him as racist, although the social media giant itself did not confirm this was the case.Trump has been facing heightened criticism for his comments during protests over police brutality but has always dismissed suggestions that he is racist. Twitter offered little in the way of explanation, pointing out only that its search algorithms may reflect what is happening on the platform.Trump, in the midst of a heated war with social media over what he claims is bias, recently signed an executive order calling for more oversight of internet platforms, a move which could prove difficult to enforce. US President Donald Trump appears as the first result of suggested accounts when users type “racist” into Twitter’s people search, it emerged Wednesday. The result, reported by the British news outlet The Independent and verified by AFP, highlights the intense discord around the president.Trump has more than 80 million followers, although there is much dispute about how many of them are genuine, active human Twitter users.
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S&P develops assessment for pension funds involved in direct lending
However, because this creates an exposure to the fund’s risk of failure, other participating investors are needing assurances of its creditworthiness.Burnett noted that S&P previously designed an assessment framework for the larger public sector asset owners, while some of the Canadian schemes were also rated entities.The latest project evaluates the risks posed by defined benefit (DB) schemes with a single corporate sponsor.He told IPE: “Regular UK, Australian or Dutch pension schemes, they are not an entity that even has the ability to issue debt, never mind being interested in a rating, so we’ve never had a methodology to assess them.”He said the assessment examined the strength of the corporate sponsor, as many schemes are in “structural deficit”, and that the funds usually end up with a rating on par, or one below, their sponsors.“The ultimate risk is on the underlying corporate sponsor, as opposed to the fund itself,” he said, explaining that the approach is similar to a covenant assessment conducted by some DB funds.The approach “steps around the issue of the structure, the regulation, the liquidity”, Burnett said.The process will ultimately increase the transparency of any construction projects – either infrastructure or real estate – that attract funding from such single-sponsor DB funds.Burnett said S&P would not stop at simply evaluating single-sponsor DB funds.“Whilst at the moment this criteria only deals with single-sponsor defined benefit schemes, in the future, we hope to expand that thinking and extend it to other types of schemes.” Standard & Poor’s is to begin rating pension schemes involved in the funding of construction projects on back on increasing interest in direct lending.The ratings agency said developing the assessment method was partially driven by a change in the way pension investors are providing project finance, with the past two years seeing a gradual shift away from the full sum being provided in advance.Instead, said Robin Burnett, the company’s senior director of infrastructure finance ratings, schemes are increasingly opting for a quarterly or monthly drawdown of financing.“For transaction sponsors, as well as for those procuring the project, these more flexible structures remove the negative carry and improve the economics of the project,” he said.
ESMA predicts cost, speed benefits from increased use of ledgers
It said it understood the use of DLT could bring benefits to the market but that it wished to understand fully any detriment that could arise through reliance on such ledgers.The supervisor predicted the clearing and settlements markets could see significant benefits, as the use of DLT could cut back on the number of intermediaries needed in any transaction.“Certain proponents of the DLT believe the clearing and settlement of transactions could effectively combine into a single step, which would be (almost) instantaneous,” the discussion paper adds.“This could create a number of additional benefits, including reduced counterparty risk and less need to post collateral.”ESMA also predicted the use of DLT could reduce costs for providers, as certain back-office functions – including reporting and monitoring of transactions – could be automated.“Also, the use of distributed ledgers could reduce or even eliminate maintenance costs of individual ledgers at company level and reduce the need for costly business continuity plans,” the paper states.“In addition, by reducing the need for multiple intermediaries, the DLT could also reduce transactions costs.”ESMA has asked for feedback from the industry by 2 September.,WebsitesWe are not responsible for the content of external sitesLink to ESMA discussion paper The European securities supervisor has launched a consultation on the use of ledgers to verify clearinghouse and other transactions, predicting its use could reduce the need for collateral.According to the discussion paper by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) – one example of which is blockchain, used to validate transactions of virtual currency Bitcoin – could see significant benefits for the clearing and settlement markets and reduce counterparty risk.Saying it was “mindful” of issues raised by the use of Bitcoin, ESMA nevertheless stressed its research on DLT would be limited to how the technology could be used within the securities markets.It noted that any regulation of payments of virtual currencies would be for the European Central Bank or the European Banking Authority to consider.
Democracy, migration, crime, and human rights are the great hemispheric issues, says OAS secretary general
NewsRegional Democracy, migration, crime, and human rights are the great hemispheric issues, says OAS secretary general by: – September 9, 2011 Sharing is caring! Share Share Tweet
12 Views no discussions Share Jose Miguel Insulza. Photo credit: oas.orgWASHINGTON, USA — The secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, said on Thursday during the XV Annual CAF Conference being held in Washington, DC, that there are issues of hemispheric scope such as migration, organized crime, and human rights that the OAS can face with greater breadth and depth than any other institution, while he recognized that there are other tasks that can be developed jointly with sub-regional forums.Insulza referred to the importance of the Inter-American Democratic Charter as an instrument that strengthens democratic institutions in the region and recalled that “there is not a single piece of American international law that is not deposited at the OAS and that does not respond to the Organization of American States; the Inter-American Democratic Charter is the OAS’s, as well as the Inter-American Convention of Human Rights, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, and the Convention for the Defense of Women’s Rights.” He underlined, nevertheless, that he believes “in regional organizations such as Unasur, the Andean Community, and Mercosur,” and held that issues such as electoral observation, crises response, and human rights can be addressed also by other organizations. “I am in favour of that,” he said.On Latin American integration, Insulza clarified that “the OAS is not a mechanism for integration,” and identified the two biggest problems of the region in this context: “the absolute inability to forge supranational organizations for integration, a goal that has not yet been reached by any of the sub-regional organizations”; and the need to recognize that there is great inequality among the countries of Latin America. “Therefore, there must be a willingness on the part of the bigger and richer countries to compensate in some way the process of integration, as Germany and France did with the European Union,” he added.Regarding the process of integrated being led by Unasur, Insulza indicated that “it is good to begin with South America, but at some point we have to ask ourselves if our objective of hemispheric integration is still relevant,” since, in his own words, this is “a gigantic aspiration.”The functions and limitations of the OAS and Unasur were the central issues of the discussion during the closing session of the CAF event. Titled, “Changing Dynamics of Hemispheric Relations,” at the session Secretary General Insulza was accompanied by the Secretary General of Unasur, María Emma Mejía, in a dialogue moderated by the CNN en español journalist Patricia Janiot.In the context of the event, Insulza paid homage to the recently deceased Chilean former senator and foreign minister Gabriel Valdés, recalling his political legacy and his contribution to Chilean democracy.Caribbean News Now
‘Wall That Heals’ makes Milan stop for the weekend
Milan, In. — The replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C.Like the original Memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron-shape and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall. The replica is constructed of Avonite, a synthetic granite, and its 140 numbered panels are supported by an aluminum frame. Machine engraving of the more than 58,000 names along with modern LED lighting provide readability of The Wall day and night.As on The Wall, the names on The Wall That Heals are listed by day of casualty. Beginning at the center/apex, the names start on the East Wall (right-hand side) working their way out to the end of that wing, picking up again at the far end of the West Wall (left-hand side) and working their way back in to the center/apex, joining the beginning and end of the conflict at the center.There is more information online here.Special thanks to Paul Gentrup for the names and locations on the wall of Southeastern Indiana Veterans lost in the Vietnam War:Last name, First name, Wall Panel, Line Ariens, Ricky Michael 2W 43Brandenberg, Verlin Richard 19E 49Brinegar, Barry Lynn 5W 86Brown, Donald Wayne 35W 24Burkett, William Omer 27W 93Chase, Michael Lyn 9W 12Combs, Lee Roy 28W 58Denning, Thomas George 16E 1Diefenbach, Larry Arthur 33E 46Dixon, Gale William 65E 13Farmer, Neil Phillip 27W 55Fleek, Charles Clinton 24W 116Fogle, Lary Dale 4E 30Fox, Charles Nathan 1E 118Gray, Harey Duncan 55E 13Hammons, Philip 20W 36Hemphill, David Wayne 38W 43Henry, Donald Ray 26E 10Herald, Clabe Jr. 12E 42Hoff, Ronald Alvin 20W 6Hutchinson Jr., Richard “Dickie” 16E 68Jacobs, John Charles 8E 17Kirkendall, Joseph Keith 46W 42Lassiter, David Steven 48W 33Lozier, Kenneth Wayne 24E 33Metcalf, Harold 44E 29Mink, Boyd Carl “Carly” 51E 31Meyers, David Lee 24E 8Myers, William Henry 19E 100Montgomery, Ronald Wayne 17W 28Raglin, Ronda Lee 9E 70Razo, Frank Andrew Jr. 7E 131Reed, William Clemon 6W 55Reid, Roger Glen 4W 97Richter, Mervin Ralph 29W 83Sanders, Richard Wayne 42W 59Schnebel, Robert Fred 36W 54Schneider, David Alan 32W 61Schuck, Donald Philip 64W 15Steuer, Fred Martin 1E 5Stevens, Gary Lynn 19E 113Treadway, William Michael 19W 26Tunny, Nicholas Randle 6W 41Wells, Orville D. 9E 64Williamson, Robert Joe 36E 43Winters, Gene Talbert 12E 31Start at the top of each panel and count down 10 lines and then there will be a dot on the left at each 10th line—–10-20-30-40 etc. so you can count down and find the line.
Thies goes fastest in Raceway Park Modified main
By Bob ConeyJEFFERSON, S.D. (Aug. 11) – It was “Go Fast or Go Home” in racing action Sunday night at Raceway Park. In the Jebro, Inc. IMCA Modified feature, Jim Thies moved into the top spot when the first and second place cars tangled on a restart with three laps remaining. Thies went on to take the victory. Jason Schneiders and Greg Taylor rounded out the top three. Jason Ward moved back into victory lane taking the feature win in the Casey’s General Stores IMCA Stock Car division. After having his win streak broken more than a month ago, Ward moved to the front in the early laps and took the checkers over Todd Gereau and Jim Hall.Todd Boulware strengthened his division point lead in the Skyline Casino IMCA Northern SportMods, passing early leader Aaron Plum for the win. Rounding out the top three was Rusty Montange. In the MOPAR IMCA Hobby Stock feature, Craig Clift took the victory pulling away from the field. Dave Riley was the best of the rest, followed by John Cain.Defending champion Cody Thompson continued to inch his way back up in the points standings with another feature win in the KISS 107 FM IMCA Sport Compacts. Behind Thompson, Drew Johnson and Mark Holmes, Jr. rounded out the top three.
Vicky Lynn Stegall March 20, 1956 – September 18, 2020
Vicky Lynn Stegall, 64, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2020 at University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. She was born on March 20, 1956 to John Sefton and Bonnie Cochran in Hamilton, Ohio. Vicky was a retired Elementary School Teacher and a member of Lexington Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Indiana. Vicky earned her Undergraduate and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University. In her free time she enjoyed photography and traveling, but most of all she loved spending time with her family. Vicky was preceded in death by her first husband, Wayne Poore, by her grandson, Izak Poore and by her father, John Sefton.Survivors include her husband, Scott Stegall of Memphis, Indiana, her sons, Jason Poore (Jami) of Memphis, Jarrod Poore of Memphis, her daughter, Cindy Buchheister (Michel) of Sellersburg, her mother, Bonnie Cochran (Larry) of Bright, Indiana, her brothers, Mark Sefton (Lisa) of Jasper, Alabama and Steve Sefton (Amy) of Minnesota, her sister, Cathy Lozier of Bright, Indiana and her step-mother, Nancy Sefton of Milan, Indiana. Vicky also leaves behind three grandchildren to cherish her memory, Gunnar Poore, River Buchheister and Tripp Buchheister.Visitation will be Thursday, September 24, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. till time of Funeral Services at 12:00 P.M. all at Jackman Hensley Funeral Home 215 Broadway Street Harrison, Ohio. Burial will follow at Gibson Cemetery in Bright, Indiana.
Sevilla agrees N3.2b Awaziem deal
RelatedPosts Bayern Munich fans undergo Super Cup coronavirus tests European Super Cup: UEFA in talks with Hungary following border closure Sevilla re-sign Rakitic on four-year deal Spanish Laliga side Leganes have agreed a deal in principle for Nigerian international, Chidozie Awaziem. Awaziem, whose parent club is FC Porto, is at the moment on a season long loan in Spain. The player has also impressed before the suspension of games due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Reports claimed Leganes is keen on retaining him, but the opportunity to play for a top team as Sevilla is an option the 22-year-old is willing to explore. Though, a fee is yet to be agreed with FC Porto, but the representatives of the player have held talks with Sevilla and are confident that Porto won’t stand in the way of Awaziem. It was also believed that a transfer fee of 8 million euros (N3.2 billion) will be sufficient to get the deal done.Tags: Chidozie AwaziemFC PortoSEVILLA
City banish away-day blues
Sergio Aguero opened the scoring early in the first half, before putting the visitors further ahead six minutes after half-time. Ricardo Vaz Te’s overhead kick reduced the deficit in style, only for David Silva to strike home after collecting a superb Aguero backheel to make it 3-1. “I am very pleased,” Pellegrini said. “The most important thing was to win the game, but I think that we continued playing the same way we were playing in the other games away. “I was absolutely sure that if we continued playing in the same way we did against Aston Villa, we must win again. “That is for me the most important thing, winning the game and continuing to play the same way. “It was very important [to get that first away win] because one point from nine is not a good average for us. “Before we started the game, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton had won their game, so we couldn’t lose more points losing away, so these three points are very important for us.” Aguero was the standout player at Upton Park, with his movement causing the hosts problems from the outset. Sergio Aguero inspired Manchester City to what manager Manuel Pellegrini called a “very important” first Premier League away win of the season as West Ham’s defence was torn to shreds. “He is a top player,” Pellegrini said of the man of the match. “He makes an important difference for us. “It is also very important for the team that he didn’t play the second game with Argentina (during the international break), so he was fresh. That was also very important.” While there were some nervy moments in the second half as West Ham threatened a comeback, anything but three points would have been harsh on City. Only wayward finishing and the fine goalkeeping of Jussi Jaaskelainen kept the scoreline down, as they made light work of the six-man midfield that had seen West Ham win 3-0 at Tottenham last time out. “We knew that West Ham would play in the way they played against Tottenham,” Pellegrini said. “They played very well in the last game, so I spoke with the players to have patience and to move the ball until we find the space. “I think we did it very well. We scored three goals and the goalkeeper was the best player of West Ham. He had at least four or five important saves.” His West Ham counterpart Sam Allardyce cut a frustrated figure after the match, with the Hammers’ improved second-half performance of little consolation. “It was too late, though, wasn’t it? That was the problem,” Allardyce said, having made a delayed entrance. “Manchester City were better than we were. “I have always said if you are going to get a good result then you have to play your very, very best and sometimes the opposition don’t allow you to do that. “I think that we thought we could come out of the traps and set the tempo, but what happened was that Manchester City decided they would do that because of their quality. “When you get the front two and Yaya Toure and Silva passing the ball like they pass it, it frightened us a little it, it put us on the back foot. “The sad thing was that even after that, we made two basic errors for their two goals rather than the quality of Aguero or Alvaro Negredo or Silva putting the ball in the back of the net with a great fluent move. “A simple ball down the middle for the first goal and somebody not picking up the smallest Man City player up for the second goal was really disappointing for us. “Gifting them the two goals was something that you wouldn’t expect to come back from against a team of their quality. “But we gave it a go, I was pleased with the response. At least they didn’t give up, they fought to the end and when we got to 2-1 with a good goal that we scored. “We showed a little bit more of our passing qualities, which failed us in the first half. “The constant passing to our players, and then the opposition regaining possession was the reason why we didn’t look anything like we did at Tottenham. “Really, our only real contribution from an attacking point of view was about 20 or 25 minutes from the end after Man City were 2-0 and that was too late.” Despite impressing at times since the Chilean’s arrival, City’s start to the domestic season has been hampered by their inability to win on the road. Defeats at Cardiff and Aston Villa either side of a goalless draw have frustrated the title hopefuls, who broke their duck in style in east London. Press Association
Maradona appointed head coach of UAE’s Al-Fujairah
(REUTERS)-Former Argentina captain Diego Maradona has ended a five-year absence from football to return as coach of Al-Fujairah FC, the United Arab Emirates club announced on Sunday.“I want to tell you that I am the new coach of Al-Fujairah SC, in the second division of the United Arab Emirates,” Maradona added on his Facebook page.The club posted a picture of the former Boca Juniors, Napoli and Barcelona striker holding their red and white shirt with his name and No. 10 on the back.It marks a return to management after a five-year gap for the 56-year-old Argentina great, who as a player led his country to a 1986 World Cup title and runners-up spot four years later.player led his country to a 1986 World Cup title and runners-up spot four years later.Maradona, who took charge of Argentina in 2008 and led them to the World Cup two years later, last managed at another UAE club, Al Wasl in May 2011 but was sacked just over a year later.He was named a FIFA ambassador in February by the world governing body’s president Gianni Infantino.The news of his return to management came on the day that Jorge Cyterszpiler, Maradona’s first agent and friend for many years, died in Buenos Aires after a fall, Argentine news media reported.