The final word on England’s series defeat in New Zealand came from Graham Thorpe. The assistant coach was standing in for the absent Chris Silverwood at the end and urged individuals to reflect honestly on their recent shortcomings. There is a quick turnaround before the tour of South Africa, with Ed Smith’s selection panel convening via conference call on Saturday to pick a touring party that departs on 15 December and plays a four-match series, this time counting for World Test Championship points, that begins on Boxing Day in Centurion. Jimmy Anderson, Mark Wood and Jonny Bairstow are part of an advanced group already training in Potchefstroom and are expected to be included in a squad of 16 or 17 players, while the captain, Joe Root, is due to speak to Moeen Ali after landing back in the UK to establish the all-rounder’s readiness to return. And for those players who went down 1-0 in New Zealand, Thorpe is keen for the lessons to be learned even if, like Root and … [Read more...] about Graham Thorpe urges England to learn lessons of New Zealand series defeat
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Air New Zealand trials edible coffee cups to combat waste
New Zealand's national airline says it is trialling edible coffee cups in a bid to reduce the amount of waste on board its planes.The cups, by local company Twiice, are made from vanilla-flavoured biscotti - and are apparently "leak-proof". Air New Zealand, which serves more than eight million cups of coffee a year, said it wanted to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. But some said a change in cups was not a big enough environmental commitment.In a statement, Air New Zealand said the coffee cups were being tested "in the air and on the ground" as part of its efforts to find "innovative ways to meet sustainability challenges". Reality Check: Why are 99.75% of coffee cups not recycled? The Himalayan village that confiscates single-use plastics How Ibiza's party scene is tackling plastic pollution "The cups have been a big hit with the customers who have used these, and we've also been using the cups as dessert bowls," Air New Zealand's Niki Chave said. Jamie Cashmore, the … [Read more...] about Air New Zealand trials edible coffee cups to combat waste
Calls to boycott Roger Waters due to anti-Semitism
Accusations of anti-Semitism have hounded former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters for years. In the latest instance, a citizen of Cologne wrote to the general director of regional public broadcaster WDR requesting they revoke their support for Waters' "Us + Them" concert, to be held on June 11, 2018. "I do not want to resign myself to the new hatred of Jews here, I'm sick of it," said Malca Goldstein-Wolf in an interview with newspaper Bild. Her call to boycott the singer was accompanied by a petition signed by over 1,300 people, according to the newspaper. Accusations of anti-Semitism have plagued Waters for years after he became a prominent supporter of BDS (Boycott Divestment and Sanctions), a non-violent movement to oppose Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. The accusations grew after balloons in the shape of a pig adorned in the Star of David were released at Waters concerts in 2013 — though he countered that several political and … [Read more...] about Calls to boycott Roger Waters due to anti-Semitism
‘No power, water, or toilets’: Cruise ‘ghost’ ship is with 900 passengers on board is stranded off South Australia ‘after losing power for HOURS’
A cruise ship carrying 900 passengers became stranded in the sea off Australia after losing power on Friday morning. The Vasco da Gama, which left London on a round-the-world tour, was drifting in the St Vincent's Gulf off Adelaide, South Australia. The lights were working but the toilets are not - and terrified passengers said they didn't have enough food and water. Eventually the problem was rectified and the ship docked at Adelaide. The Vasco da Gama (pictured), which left London on a round-the-world tour, is drifting in the ocean off Adelaide One passenger named Ian told 2GB radio the conditions were 'absolutely horrific'. 'We're drifting. We've got no power, no water, no toilets, no cooking, nothing,' he said, 'They've got auxiliary power to light the corridors but that is it. It's like a ghost ship, mate.' RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next What a dope! Drug addict is busted trying to take 25 KILOS... Heartwarming moment a pet owner is reunited with Pudge … [Read more...] about ‘No power, water, or toilets’: Cruise ‘ghost’ ship is with 900 passengers on board is stranded off South Australia ‘after losing power for HOURS’
The bulls head the global stampede for gold bullion – but will it last?
When a huge gold-plated statue of a sausage was unveiled in the small Russian town of Novokuznetsk, it seemed final proof the world had gone crazy about this most precious of metals. The salami sculpture was in fact a tribute to the town's favourite food. But the taste for gold is universal, with the price up 54% in two years, according to the World Gold Council (WGC). Last week, spot gold touched $1,343.90 (£842.81) an ounce – an all-time high – with bulls forecasting it could top $1,500 by the end of the year. Gold has always been seen as a safe haven for investors at times of economic uncertainty, so it should come as no surprise that, following the dotcom bust and the financial crisis that broke in 2007, its price has rocketed. But gold's bull run goes back even further and since 1999 the price has risen more than 430%. It was in 1999 that the then chancellor, Gordon Brown, dumped half of Britain's gold reserves at an average selling price of $248 an ounce. With … [Read more...] about The bulls head the global stampede for gold bullion – but will it last?
