Nike continues eSports push with league partnership in China
In this Sunday Aug. 26, 2018 photo, the China eSports team play Taiwan in the eSports exhibition at the 18th Asian Games Arena of Valor, Britama Arena, Jakarta. (Dhemas Reviyanto,INASGOC via AP)Nike has made another push into the eSports market, partnering with China’s premier “League of Legends” circuit to become its official provider of apparel and footwear.The traditional sports brand announced a four-year deal Thursday with Legends Pro League in China, giving Nike a presence with one of the most watched eSports leagues in the world. The move comes after Nike tabbed Chinese “League of Legends” player Jian “Uzi” Zihao as its first eSports ambassador in October and used him in a marketing campaign alongside LeBron James.ADVERTISEMENT It’s a promising sign for “League of Legends” publisher Riot Games, which revealed concerns over revenues for its eSports leagues last summer despite massive global popularity — the league reported 99.6 million unique viewers for its world championship match last fall, just shy of the 100.7 million that tuned in for this year’s Super Bowl.Major advertising partners had been hard to come by, but Riot has signed deals with Nike and Mastercard in the past six months, creating new streams of revenue with non-endemic brands even after the company contended with backlash over claims it has fostered a sexist culture last summer.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissSPORTSCoronation night?SPORTSThirdy Ravena gets offers from Asia, Australian ball clubsNike will design, produce and distribute jerseys and footwear for all 16 LPL teams and will aid in eSports science research with customized physical training programs for gamers.Similar apparel deals have become common between sports brands and individual eSports teams, and the Overwatch League recently added Fanatics as its official apparel provider, but the Nike-LPL partnership is the most prestigious pairing to date and yet another high watermark for the eSports boom. Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Japeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for Ginebra A different approach Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college Terms of the Nike deal were not disclosed.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next
Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil MOST READ Eugenie Bouchard’s bid for Australian Open spot ends in qualifying Rogue cops marked as Gamboa’s targets in his appointment as PNP chief LATEST STORIES Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? Tom Brady most dominant player in AFC championship history View comments
The Executive Director of one of Liberia’s leading adult literacy organizations, ALFALIT Liberia International, says the entity’s mission to reach illiterate Liberians with its educational enrichment programs continues to climb the ladder of success.Rev. Emmanuel J. Giddings made the remark yesterday at the opening ceremony for training 44 newly recruited teachers on the level one instructional training manual in Monrovia.Rev. Giddings told the newly recruited teachers that sooner or later illiteracy will be conquered by Liberians.The teacher training seminar will run for three days.Rev. Giddings explained that after the training, the new teachers will be transformers in a drive to make adult literacy learners effective and useful citizens.He admonished Liberians, including the teachers that everyone should take charge of education in all parts of the country and muster against illiteracy.“Since 2006 most of the ALFALIT staff that joined the adult literacy program left (other forms of teaching) owing to commitment and resolved to work for the adult literacy learners in the country,” Rev. Giddings noted.He further cautioned the new teachers that they should take pride in what they are being taught; that the biggest reward will be to empower the adult literacy learners with knowledge.“Because of your good and committed work, somebody’s life condition will be elevated from mat to mattress; and because of you, somebody is able to take charge of his or her destiny,” Rev. Giddings stressed.“If you give the people knowledge, you give the power against abuse, exploitation and other forms of bad tendencies in any society.” In closing, Director Giddings pointed out that as a result of the huge commitment and dedication on the part of staff, each year, ALFALIT Liberia continues to climb the ladder of success in its adult literacy program in Liberia.In a brief response, two participants of the teacher training seminar said that the staff have demonstrated and committed their resources, skills and expertise to the enrichment of adult literacy learners in the country.The two participants assured ALFALIT Liberia officials that they will take advantage of the current opportunities being provided and make use of training manuals intended for the adult literacy program.In remarks, the Training Coordinator of ALFALIT Liberia, Rev. Jerome Williams, said he was proud of the newly accepted teachers to the adult literacy program in Liberia.Coordinator Williams explained the new teachers were drawn from 13 centers in Monrovia and its environs.Asked to shed light on how much was earmarked for the current teacher training, Coordinator Williams declined to give the actual cost.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
– demands apology from TrotmanOpposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has repeated calls for a suspension of the historic Guyana-NorwayOpposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeopartnership until Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman apologises for his damning statements or until an international probe is launched into his allegations against the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.Trotman told the National Assembly during the Budget debate that the previous Government had given away all of the nation’s productive forest and there was basically nothing left.“We were met with an alarming situation where we discovered that 100 per cent or all of our productive forest was allocated by the past Government,” the Minister stated.The PPP/C has since declared that the Minister was lying, stating that he should immediately retract his comments. “They must apologise to the people of Guyana,” the Party had demanded.In fact, PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had written to the Norwegian Government expressing the Party’s concerns over Trotman’s wild statements.During a recent press conference at Freedom House, Jagdeo resurrected the issue and once again called on the Norwegians to suspend all payments to Guyana.“Because US$15 million GRIF [Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund] payments is budgeted in this year’s budget, money that APNU (A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change) did not support, they were critical of and they want to spend now,” he stated.The PPP/C had previously explained that about seven million hectares of forest have been allocated for concessions, less than 38 per cent of Guyana’s forest or about 55 per cent of the State forest estate. Of the seven million hectares, about five million hectares were allocated through large concessions. Of those five million hectares, about 2.8 million hectares of large concessions were allocated by PPP/C Government between 1992 and 2015, and about half of the large concessions were issued by the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government before 1992, including the current largest concession for Barama at 1.7 million hectares.In summary, the past Government allocated approximately 15 per cent of Guyana’s forest to large concessions, about the same as the PNC Government. To date, 5.5 million hectares, or close to half the State forest estate, remains unallocated.Meanwhile, the Party said the continued “attacks” on the previous Administration’s management of the forest were becoming worrisome.
A Grande Prairie cattle hustler, who sold fictional livestock to unsuspecting Americans for nearly $90,000, has been sentenced to 12 months of house arrest. Fifty-four year-old Christopher Peter Stoiou, pled guilty last week to 2 counts of criminal fraud over $5,000 and 9 charges under the provincial livestock act for dealing in cattle without a licence.Alberta Provincial Court Judge Morris Golden ordered him to repay more than $69,000 dollars to a North Dakota rancher and $18,000 to a Texan, both of whom paid for cattle they never received.A third fraud charge and 3 charges of theft over $5,000 were withdrawn. Crown prosecutors also withdrew all charges against a co-accused, 44 year-old Jennifer Midwinter.- Advertisement -Stoiou received credit for the 3 months he has already served in the Edmonton Remand Centre since his arrest in March.
Attached below is the latest news letter from the Peace River Regional. – Advertisement –
…countrywide exercise being undertakenTwo weeks after a sweep was carried out at the markets in and around Georgetown and a number of substandard and falsified (SF) medications at local pharmacies was discovered, the Guyana Police Force has been called in to assist the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) in its quest to locate a distributor who is manufacturing and selling a number of pharmaceuticals under unauthorised conditions.Some of the substandard and falsified (SF) medications unearthed at local pharmaciesThis revelation was made after a complaint was lodged at the GA-FDD in relation to the issue at hand, which resulted in the launch of an investigation.During a sweep, according to information released by the GA-FDD, inspectors visited 16 pharmacies on August 22, 2019 and August 23, 2019. The SF drugs were found at nine of the locations and these products were seized and removed from the retailed premises.At the locations, a total of 17 boxes of a medication labelled “Chanca Piedra Phosmovite”, sold at an average price of $3,500— which claims to treat gall and kidney stones, clean the liver and the urinary tract— were found.Also found were 28 boxes of a product named “Fungabort”, sold at an average price of $1,000, which claims to be effective in the treatment of nail fungus. In addition, a sum of 23 boxes of “Phosferine”, sold at an average price of $3,000, were also seized and removed from premises.It was reported that ingredients used, in some of the products, could be detrimental to end users. This is according to a source familiar with the state of affairs.In an interview with this publication, Food and Drugs Director Marlan Cole, said that a country-wide sweep will be done to determine if the illegal items are being retailed at locations other than the ones reported. Details of the countrywide exercise are likely to be released by next month, he said.The Department, he said, is currently in a position to aggressively implement measures to protect consumers from the associated dangers of substandard medications. To aid its investigations, the Department examined the products individually and the batch numbers and tried to trace these back to the facility where they were manufactured. If they cannot be traced, it will confirm the allegation of the item being processed locally.With the next step being for them to locate the distributor, the Director speculated that such a person operating illegally may be found operating a mini-lab in his or her home, photocopying some labels, buying bottles from another country which is similar to the ones used in Guyana, which are then pasted on to labels before distributing them for sale.According to Cole, if the distributor is found to be operating under illegal circumstances, legal actions will be taken for him/her to be prosecuted. Currently, the punishment for such acts incur a fine of up to $30,000 along with six months’ imprisonment.The GA-FDD found it necessary to seek the assistance from the Guyana Police Force since the retailers had no paperwork which trace back to the distributor or manufacturer of the products.The Food and Drug Department is advising all pharmacies to immediately desist from the practice of purchasing and retailing medication to be used by patients from walk-in-salesmen (suitcase traders) who refuse to provide invoices or adequate receipt or other records for traceability purposes.Information provided to this publication revealed that one of the products sold is made with ‘Caustic Soda’ better known as Sodium Hydroxide, which is broken down as an ingredient of one the products.
In other results, Chemelil Sugar stunned Western Stima 2-0 to move out of relegation zone, sitting 13th on 17 points while at the Kasarani Stadium, Eric Kapaito scored in the 20th minute to hand Kariobangi Sharks 1-0 win over visiting Nzoia Sugar.The game served up some drama towards the end when some of the AFC Leopards backroom staff members sent a ball-boy to ‘steal’ keeper Justin Ndikumana’s towel at the side of the goal with the Burundian keeper snatching it away from the kid as he raced away.On the pitch though, it was a full throttle contest.Harambee Stars Under-23 forward Avire who had been a constant menace to the AFC backline glanced his team ahead at the stroke of halftime, rising high unmarked inside the box to head in from a well delivered outer foot Umaru Kassumba cross from the right.While the entire AFC defense keenly watched the Ugandan who has scored eight times for Batoto ba Mungu this season, Avire found space and was running in behind the defense at every opportune moment.Sofapaka took charge of the opening half and had their first chance inside five minutes when Brian Magonya picked out Piston Mutamba with a through pass inside the box but the striker’s effort at cutting back the ball was blocked.Sofapaka FC defender George Maelo vies for the ball with AFC Leopards winger Vincent Oburu during a Kenyan Premier League match at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega on March 13, 2019. PHOTO/Timothy OlobuluOn the other end, AFC’s first opening at goal came in the seventh minute through Victor Majid who cited space ahead of him and went for a shot, but keeper Justin Ndikumana saw it early and gathered.In the 18th minute, Batoto ba Mungu came ever so close when Stephen Waruru rose highest inside the box off an Elli Asieche corner, but his glancing header went over.It turned out to be a half of set pieces, each side trying their luck on the dead ball and AFC had their go close in the 33rd minute when Robinson Kamura arrowed a fierce one from the left but Ndikumana fisted the ball away.Sofapaka thought they had the lead nine minutes to half time when Mutamba headed home after George Maelo had arrowed the ball back to the edge of the box, but the ref cancelled the goal for an infringement on Whyvonne Isuza.Nonetheless, Sofapaka ensured they went to the breather one up when against the run of play, Kassumba cited Avire’s run and picked him out with a superb cross.Sofapaka FC defender George Maelo vies for the ball with AFC Leopards winger Vincent Oburu during a Kenyan Premier League match at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega on March 13, 2019. PHOTO/Timothy OlobuluIn the second half AFC came back a better side and pushed Sofapaka to defend deep.Ten minutes after the restart, Ndikumana had to be alert inside the box to stick out a foot to cut out Mainge’s cross from the right with Asuza lurking waiting to pounce.While AFC threw bodies upfront, they were almost caught on their rear twice. In the 63rd minute, they conceded a goal off a counter and Asieche floated it in, Waruru heading it against the bar. Mutamba picked up the spills and shot goal-ward but the effort was blocked off the line.Almost immediately, another counter saw Asieche release Mutamba with a through pass but the Harambee Stars forward could not beat Jairus Adira one on one.AFC pushed and in the final quarter of an hour handed new signing David Ochieng his debut coming in to midfield while Aziz Okaka was also brought on for Vincent Oburu. However, they could not get the goal, to earn them in the least a point.0Shares0000(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today) 0Shares0000Sofapaka FC players celebrate their goal against AFC Leopards during a Kenyan Premier League match at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega on March 13, 2019. PHOTO/Timothy OlobuluKAKAMEGA, Kenya, Mar 13 – John Avire’s header at the stroke of half time was all Sofapaka needed to edge out AFC Leopards 1-0 in a charged clash at the Bukhungu Stadium to go top of the Kenyan Premier League.Avire glanced home an Umaru Kassumba cross to take the 2009 champions to 33 points, one ahead of previous leaders Bandari.
160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! By Mari Yamaguchi THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TOKYO – Heavy rains and strong winds lashed Tokyo today as a typhoon-turned-tropical storm headed north after killing one person, injuring more than 40, and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes. At least three people were missing. Authorities suspended some train service in Tokyo and warned of possible landslides and flooding in the capital and other affected areas, advising hundreds of people to evacuate. The tropical storm, originally Typhoon Fitow, made landfall in Kanagawa state southwest of Tokyo, before heading north and losing power. By afternoon in Japan today, winds were down to 66mph, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The storm has dumped heavy rain on parts of Japan’s main island of Honshu since Wednesday, up to 24 inches in some areas. Meteorologists considered the storm dangerous because its slow speed gave it time to accumulate moisture from the ocean, and because it was passing over heavily populated areas, including the capital area with some 25 million people.
Skie said it’s important for Congress to act quickly before the opportunity to conserve the land is lost. “We risk severing critical wildlife corridors if we can’t get in there and start figuring out what is needed,” she said. Opponents, however, said they remain concerned. “I still have many reservations about the study being worthwhile,” said Woodland Hills resident Carl Olson. Noting that Los Angeles County already has more than 400 parks and that the National Park Service has trouble maintaining the parkland it currently oversees, he asked, “Why add pricey territory when maybe the money ought to go to recreation projects in the parks we have right now?” The legislation only directs a study and does not authorize a new park. Congress, however, typically orders an agency to conduct a study as a way to invest the government in the underlying project, so it is often the first step in a larger strategy. Currently the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area consists of parts of the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and adjacent connector areas to the Los Padres and San Bernardino national forests.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! WASHINGTON – The House voted Tuesday to begin extending federal protection to more than a half-million acres of mountains and canyons surrounding the San Fernando, La Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi and Conejo valleys. The bill, known as the Rim of the Valley Study Act, directs the secretary of the Interior Department to examine expansion of the Santa Monica National Recreation Area. Ultimately, supporters hope the National Park Service will embrace the open space and ecological resources. “The Rim of the Valley is a special place and we owe it to our children to develop a long-range plan that will balance preservation, recreation and the needs and rights of those living in and around the area,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, the bill’s author. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREPettersson scores another winner, Canucks beat KingsThe bill, he said, “will enable a study of alternatives for protecting some of the most beautiful land in Southern California for future generations of Americans to enjoy.” The measure still must pass the U.S. Senate, where Sen. Dianne Feinstein has introduced an identical bill. But Tuesday’s House passage is a significant win for supporters of the potential new park. The previous House Resources Committee chairman, Richard Pombo, was a strong champion of private-property rights and for years blocked the Rim of the Valley bill from even coming to the floor for a House vote. It passed Tuesday without objection along with a raft of other noncontroversial bills. “I’m very excited,” said Rorie Skie, chief deputy director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. 
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREBlues bury Kings early with four first-period goals The Associated Press, seeking to account for how things went so wrong in Gardena, found a trail of no-bid contracts and other special deals, government doublespeak and warnings unheeded that show how vulnerable any town can be to unchecked officials who gamble with the public’s money and trust. A few people did well as the insurance venture bled cash, according to the AP’s investigation, which was based in part on documents obtained through open-records requests. There were the consultants and financial specialists who earned millions and the former city manager who spent lavishly on four-star hotels and travel. How could this happen in Gardena, whose name evokes its simpler past as a center for berry growing? Home to 60,000, it’s ethnically diverse, blue collar and six square miles small – a place where lunch lines get long at Giuliano’s deli, kids splash in the municipal pool and homeowners expect potholes to be fixed. Now, however, there is scant money to repair streets and sewer lines. The municipal pool is part of the public property backing bonds that bankrolled the insurance venture. Some officials doubt that the pool – or parkland, or the police station – will be handed over to creditors. The financial outlook is bleak. In a city with a tight budget, the possible higher interest payments to banks are “not likely to be sustainable,” according to Standard & Poor’s, the Wall Street rating service. And a recent survey of the credit strength of California cities already placed Gardena alone at the bottom. GARDENA – At the edge of insolvency, this Los Angeles suburb has a surplus of just one thing: frustration. Banks could slap Gardena this week with hefty penalties for failure to pay $25.6 million in debt. Most of the long-overdue bill, equal to more than three-fourths of the annual municipal budget, dates to a decision a dozen years ago that many see as reckless: Despite repeated warnings of the financial risk, local officials pushed their city into the insurance business. The unprecedented for-profit company they founded, Municipal Mutual Insurance Co., is now under state supervision. To stay afloat, city officials have considered declaring bankruptcy, raising taxes or even closing a city department. Block by block, Gardena is suffering. Gift-shop owner Carol Luna sees a city in decline and is thinking of moving away. City officials “spend their money foolishly,” she said. “You can only beat your head on the wall for so long.” It’s unclear whether the banks – Japanese-owned Sumitomo Trust & Banking Co., which holds most of the debt, and Union Bank of California – will go to court to attempt to extract the higher payments, which a city official said could cost an extra $1 million a year. Sumitomo holds the debt connected with the insurance company, $19.6 million. Union Bank is owed nearly $6 million for the failed home-loan program. Officials at both banks declined comment; negotiations with the city are continuing. Across the nation, municipal entities have defaulted in recent years on bonds issued to support other atypical ventures, such as golf courses and marinas, according to a study by Fitch Ratings. And neighboring Orange County suffered default after losses in a high-risk investment pool. But Gardena officials became convinced that a homegrown insurance company could provide coverage for Gardena while earning millions of dollars through policies sold to other cities. The business the city founded in 1993 was supposed to turn government investments into profit – but people connected with Municipal Mutual describe it as the little company that couldn’t. Weeks before Gardena was scheduled to borrow $15 million on the bond market, a financing team led by Prudential Securities walked out on the deal. The problem: The city didn’t have any commitments – beyond Gardena itself – to buy the insurance it wanted to sell. If it didn’t sell policies, the company couldn’t repay the bonds. It was “clearly a risky program and it caused (Prudential) not to want to proceed,” said David N. Lund, a former Prudential director who worked on the financing. Yet Prudential’s findings were not detailed in City Council minutes, which described Prudential’s sudden exit simply as a “business decision.” A second underwriter, Sutro & Co., and a San Francisco law firm also dropped the deal. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!