Microsoft has launched new remote desktop applications to allow users to access Windows 8 on the move from iPhones, iPads and Android smartphones and tablets.
The release comes as users around the world are now able to download
the latest version of the operating system (OS), Windows 8.1.
The new apps are available free on both Apple's iOS and Google's
Android, meaning the majority of smartphone and tablet users will be
covered. Microsoft
has thus far neglected to release a client for its Windows Phone 8
platform, which suggests that the firm may be waiting until the release
of its next major patch for the OS, dubbed Windows Phone 3.
While many free and premium solutions for remotely accessing Windows
machines have been available for a while from third parties such as
Citrix and Wyse, this is the first time Microsoft itself has brought
this functionality to third-party mobile devices.
The app gains access to Windows 8 devices through remote desktop
protocol (RDP), which Microsoft says connects securely. Users are able
to connect simply by entering the IP address of the desired machine,
then entering their username and password.
Multi-touch gestures are compatible too, with the inclusion of
RemoteFX meaning users' gestures on their phone or tablet screen are
translated over to the touch-friendly Windows 8 interface.
Microsoft is also touting the app as being data friendly, claiming
"improved compression" while maintaining high-quality video and sound.
So far, the app has received a generally positive reception on both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, achieving four-star ratings on both.
Many will see Microsoft's decision to launch this software now as
rather late, as the popularity of cloud storage coupled with the
ever-increasing uptake of bring-your-own-device policies in the
workplace making remote desktop access less important.
Nonetheless, for businesses operating more traditional infrastructure
models, this remote desktop support could push them to upgrade their
machines to Windows 8.
More than 180,000
higher rate tax payers are missing out on an estimated £230million of
'free money' by failing to claim tax relief on their pension
contributions.
Research
from Prudential has found that a quarter of higher rate taxpayers on
money purchase pension schemes fail to claim the full relief, which
means around £229million is unclaimed each year.
People
in the higher rate tax bracket can top up their pension savings by 40
per cent through tax relief, so that a £100 contribution to their
pension pot only costs them £60.
Throwing money away: Many higher rate taxpayers
with personal pensions are failing to claim higher rate tax relief on
their pension contributions.
Higher rate taxpayers on workplace pension schemes should receive their tax relief automatically through their payroll.
But
not every occupational pension will do this, as some operate as Group
Personal Pension and stakeholder schemes, which only provide 20 per cent
tax relief automatically, meaning some people on workplace pensions may
be unaware they are not getting their full entitlements.
Those with individual personal
pensions meanwhile, such as Sipps and stakeholder pensions, will also
have to claim back the extra 20 per cent. To
get the rest, these people will need to fill out an annual
self-assessment tax return, or can call HMRC to get back previously
unclaimed relief. The
actual figure going unclaimed could be even higher than £230million,
with 15 per cent of higher rate taxpayers surveyed by Prudential saying
they're unsure whether or not they're claiming the extra relief.
Clare
Moffat, Prudential's tax expert, said: 'Failing to claim higher rate
pension tax relief can have a major impact on income and it is clear
that a substantial number of higher rate taxpayers are not claiming
relief they are entitled to.
'It
can be worth as much as £1,255-a-year and there cannot be many people
who would happily give up as much. Substantial numbers of higher rate
taxpayers can take action now to significantly improve their pension
savings.'
The 40 per cent tax rate kicks in on earnings above £41,451-a-year, while the 45 per cent rate kicks in at £150,000. Prudential
found that 78 per cent of the 900,000 higher rate taxpayers on defined
contribution personal pensions will typically pay 10 per cent of their
average salary of £62,774 into their pension.
A
monthly contribution of £523 would be topped up by £104 in tax relief
under basic rate tax relief, but this would double to £208 if higher
rate tax relief was claimed back.
But
those who have not claimed their relief in previous years can still do
so, as the Government allows those who fill out annual tax returns to
claim back relief on contributions dating back to the 2011/12 tax year.
Meanwhile
those who don't fill in tax returns can go back even further, claiming
tax relief as far back as 2009/10, though they must submit their claims before October 31 to get relief for this year, after which they can only claim back as far as 2010/11.
She is known for having the best
figure in fashion, but Kate Moss proudly displayed a curvier shape as
she holidayed in Jamaica, yesterday.
The 39 year-old supermodel looked healthy and happy as she made a splash in the Caribbean Sea.
Wearing
a designer two-piece which consisted of a grey top and tiger-print
bottoms, the Croydon-born star confidently showed off a shapely torso
and more defined hourglass figure.
Sunday, 20 October 2013
What's the best mobile phone? Our verdict on the best smartphone/best phones - constantly updated
We've
all got at least one mobile phone each, right? We've probably got about
three or four nowadays, and that counts giving your old Nokia 3310 to
your Mum a few years ago.
But while you used to be able to just
bank on the new Nokia or always get the next Sony Ericsson because it
had a half-decent camera, there are now so many great options out there
from loads of manufacturers.
The trouble is, how do you decide which is the best one for you?
Well,
this is where we make it easy. Because here we have our continually
updated comparison of the top 20 best smartphones currently adorning
phone emporiums up and down the UK.
The last update saw the HTC
One maintain its place at the top of the charts, holding off multiple
challenges from Nokia, Samsung, LG and Sony (namely the Galaxy S4) -
showing the smartphone market still has a fair few players.
But
the HTC One is nearly 6 months old. That's an age in smartphone terms,
and now Apple has doubled down, bringing out a phone at the same price
(the iPhone 5C) and pulling no punches with the supercharged iPhone 5S, so where will both land in our top 20?
But it's by no means a 'can Apple topple HTC' kind of race - as HTC has created a cheaper version of the One (the HTC One Mini, of course), LG's gone all out with the aptly named LG G2, and even Sony is continually pushing the smartphone envelope with the Sony Xperia Z1 - so who knows who will be number one these days?
If that still doesn't help, well, there's always our extensive mobile phone reviews pages as well - or check out our personally crafted smartphone buyer's guide:
And when you've decided which new phone to buy (and checked out the best mobile phone deal), why not cash in your old one with our phone recycling price comparison service?
Here are our rankings for the best mobile phones around, currently available in the UK.
20. Huawei Ascend P6
Huawei
is something of a dark horse in the mobile phone world at the moment,
thanks to the fact that it's one of the largest manufacturers but
nowhere near the minds of most consumers when thinking about their next
smartphone.
That
changed slightly with the launch of the Huawei Ascend P6, a
super-super-slim Android device that costs less than £300, comes with a
quad core processor and generally looks the business in smartphone
terms.
Huawei has taken an alternative approach to its Android
overlay by scrapping the menu section, leading to a dump of widgets and
apps all in one easy set of screens.
It's got a rather nice display and lightning quick operation, and has certainly turned some heads in the smartphone world.
Quick verdict
The Huawei P6 isn't the kind of phone
that's going to challenge at the sharp end of our ranking, but it is a
phone worth considering if you want top-end features at a reasonable
price.
It's got a lot going for it, and the customisable themes
are impressive too - we suggest you hold it in your hand before
dismissing it as the design is just almost inexplicably thin.
The
Nokia Lumia 820 sits nicely at the crossroads between value and power.
While it doesn't have the processor, camera or larger screen of its big
brother the Lumia 920, it does have microSD storage, removable covers and a more attractive price tag - multiple reasons why you should like it.
New
to Windows Phone? This is an affordable option for you. Don't want a
Full HD screen? The Super AMOLED option on this is battery-friendly but
still rather good. Want a fun camera? Multiple lenses are your friend
here.
This is a well constructed, colourful handset with some
excellent technological features, and it's got a really palatable price
point to boot. It's been overshadowed by others in the range, but that
doesn't mean it isn't still a class act.
Quick verdict
OK, it's not the best Windows Phone device out there. Many have better specs, and others have lower price points.
But
the Lumia 820 can take a knock, has a decent battery and more
importantly: doesn't cost the earth each month on contract. A perfect
device for those thinking about getting a mid-term smartphone before
upgrading to something with a little more grunt in the future.
BlackBerry is (sort of) back - there's no doubt about that after the huge launch of the BlackBerry Z10 and it's BB10
operating system. The lateness of said launch caused some to question
the relevance of the phones, but it's still a phone that ticks a lot of
boxes.
The BlackBerry Z10's Peek function, interesting camera
features and ability to offer you a work and life balance will appeal to
a lot of people who struggle to carry around two handsets when the
office won't let you bring the iPhone in.
The Z10 has a quality
finish as well as a clever interface, and the expandable storage,
removable battery and Adobe Flash support are all small wins for the Z10
and will help as it tries to stand out in a crowded market.
Add
in the presence of BlackBerry 10.2 to supercharge the OS (to some extent
- improving the Priority Hub is a nice move) and you can see it's not
game over for BB just yet.
Quick verdict
The Z10 is a decent smartphone offering up a
strong range of features and a fancy new operating system that may catch
the eye of the technologically adventurous.
It does pretty much
everything we'd expect from a high-end device and there are no major
flaws to go running to the presses about. It's only the lack of any real
cutting-edge features to mark it out that keeps it from going higher in
our list, so if you're all about BlackBerry, then this phone won't
disappoint.
Sure, things aren't going well at the Canadian firm,
which is why the handset is so far down our list - but in a vacuum, we'd
wager a few more people would choose BB10 thanks to its slick operation
under the finger.
The
Sony Xperia SP is a phone that's flown a little under the radar in
recent months: a phone with a decent spec list that can be had for a
fair few quid under £300.
One of the main draws is the camera,
where the range of settings and the quality of the images it produces
were well beyond what we would expect from a smartphone at this price.
It's
become an indispensable tool of any modern handset, and Sony has
concentrated its efforts to make sure this part of the Sony Xperia SP
really punches above its weight.
There are other things we
really dig on the SP too: the inclusion of a microSD slot is always
welcome, and the Walkman app makes a mid-range handset really shine for
the music lover.
It's also packing 4G connectivity for speedy
data on the go, which again is really rather nice for the price - in
short, it's a handset that outperforms its price tag.
Quick verdict
The excellent camera and range of connectivity that includes NFC and 4G
go hand-in-hand with a great design and a screen size that will be just
right for someone that doesn't want a high-end 5-inch monster.
If
you're on a budget, we'd consider it ahead of last year's high-flyers,
and it's certainly better than a lot of other phones available at this
hotly contested mid-range price point.
Heavy users could struggle
with the moderate battery and mediocre processor, but if you want to
save a bit of money and still own a smartphone that you can show off at
parties or around the office, you could do a lot worse than picking up
the Xperia SP.
Want
the Samsung Galaxy S4 but are too worried about dropping it in the bath
or flinging it into a sand dune? Well, you can either not do either of those things, or buy the Samsung Galaxy S4.
With
a powerful IP67 water and dust proof case the Active is far more hardy
than a lot of the top end devices currently on the market.
The only other handset which can match the rugged credentials of the S4 Active is the Sony Xperia Z, (and Z1 successor, of course) although those being covered in glass front and back makes them feel far more fragile.
While
the 5-inch display may not sport the Super AMOLED technology of the S4,
the full HD resolution still makes for an excellent visual experience
which is only really bettered by its namesake and the HTC One.
Quick verdict
If
you're in the market for a super powerful smartphone which you can take
on extreme activities, swimming and in the bath then sure the Galaxy S4
Active is the best around, although that's a pretty limited market.
And hey, chuck it in a bucket of water and your mates will be seriously impressed (honest).
We've
only got this phone so far down on the list as we don't think huge
amounts of users will be desperate to add the heft to an S4 to make it a
bit more life proof, and that isn't going to be something most people
will worry about.
But if you want the security of a phone that can
withstand a few knocks but doesn't scrimp on the specs or usability,
then you could do a lot worse than checking out the S4 Active.
Noel Biderman, the founder of AshleyMadison.com, a spectacularly successful website that helps people conduct extra-marital affairs, is happily married. Neither he nor his wife of a decade, Amanda, are members of Ashley Madison,
which offers simple advice to married folks: 'Life is short. Have an
affair' . It also calls itself the 'world's leading married dating
service for discreet encounters' .
Infidelity is big business. The website just got an investment of $50 million from a New York hedge fund, and is being wooed by several other investors. It has already helped several Canadian hedge funds make a killing.
According to Newsweek,
the company made $30 million in profits on $90 million in revenues last
year, and expects $40 million in profits this year. Members have grown
four-fold over the past five years to 12.7 million in the US and 8.3
million overseas in 30 countries. Much of the new growth is coming from
Japan and Hong Kong, where the company recently launched.
It's not just bored bankers and middle-aged men who use the website's services, either. Earlier this year, Business Insider
reported that the number of women using the website had seen a surge.
Among users under 35, women and men are split 50-50, and while there are
still more men than women on the site, the proportion of single women
looking for married lovers - 28% - is higher than that of single men.
One probable reason for this surge is the new Ashley Madison app,
which has enabled housewives to log in from their phones instead of
taking the risk of being caught using it on the family computer.
Understandably, the website and its founder have come in for some heavy
pounding from those whose moral sense is affronted by a website that
openly encourages people to have sex outside standard relationship
structures. Trish McDermott, who helped found successful dating site
Match. com, accused Ashley Madison of being a "business built on the
back of broken hearts, ruined marriages and damaged families". Biderman
is not having any of it. "That's ridiculous. If you take the label off
my business, any investor would be throwing zillions of dollars at it.
The pursuit of an infidelity is a biological drive. We underestimate our
ability to withstand temptation," he tells Newsweek's Lynnley Browning
in a long interview.
Medical professionals should stop pandering to overweight patients and
“confront the elephant in the room”, a leading doctor has said.
Dr Max Pemberton has waded into to the debate over how doctors should deal
with obese patients, after the National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (NICE) said earlier this week that people should not be blamed
for being fat.
The
body published draft guidelines suggesting doctors should avoid using
the term ‘obese’ for fear of upsetting patients, and instead advise that
they ‘seek a healthier weight’.
But writing in The
Spectator, Dr Pemberton said: “I’m not going to stop diagnosing cancer
just because people don’t like hearing the world.
“So why should it be different when informing people that they are obese?
"For too long, my fellow doctors have pussyfooted around their obese patients,
too scared to confront the, er, elephant in the room."
He recounted the story of one patient who demanded to be put on a course of
weight-loss pills rather than attempt to diet.
“It happens all the time,” wrote Dr Pemberton, “Patients who are not interested in changing
their diet in any way, demand to have their cake, eat it…and then pop a pill
so that the calories never touch their waistline.
“And, as a result, Britain now combines austerity with obesity.”
One-third of children are now considered overweight and three hundred people
are admitted to hospital each day as a direct result of their obesity, at a
cost of £5bn to the NHS, he said.
The doctor claimed the country was adapting to rather than addressing the
problem, citing the example of Nottingham Council, which recently spent
£500,000 improving its pavements in areas with an overweight population to
encourage people to walk more.
“Like a middle-aged man deciding to eat what he wants and let himself go,
Britain is pulling on a pair of tracksuit bottoms and heading to the fridge,"
he wrote.
And he pointed to figures showing that in the 1960s only one to two per cent
of the population were classed as clinically obese, whereas now that
proportion is 25 per cent.
“It would be easy to blame Britain’s lifestyle changes,” Dr Pemberton said,
“but the worst of it is attitude.
“People just aren’t bothering to lose weight any more. Perhaps obesity is
viewed as more normal.”
He added: “The truth can be the hardest drug to administer. But holding our
tongues, prescribing the fat pills and bankrupting the NHS in the process,
is the worst solution of all.”
As if warm Florida sunshine and miles of pristine beaches were
not enough, our Miami hotels are a fiesta of colour and style. Come here
for blissful days on the sand, and then seek shade in the
accommodations of Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Lincoln Road and Bal
Harbour.
Culture vultures should definitely pay a visit Miami’s renowned
museums and galleries. The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Lowe Art
Museum and Miami Art Museum are just a sample of the city’s
sophisticated artistic spaces.
One of the inarguable highlights of the city is Ocean Drive in South
Beach. You can easily spend day marveling over the more than 800
preserved Art Deco buildings. Take a break over lunch or happy hour
drinks, but don’t head back your Miami accommodation without snapping an
obligatory photo before the famous Versace mansion.
When the sun goes down, Miami chefs draw on the top-notch produce
raised in the rich soil and warm seas of Florida to create their
culinary alchemy, while DJs lure partygoers with the promise of spirited
salsa and pounding dance beats. You might even spot one of the
celebrities who are drawn to Miami’s nightclub culture before retiring
to your Miami hotel bed in the wee hours of the morning.
Headquartered in the Philadelphia region, Lincoln Financial Group is a
Fortune 500 company offering a diverse range of financial services and
solutions. With a strong focus on four core business areas — life
insurance, annuities, retirement plan services, and group protection —
our business is built around supporting, preserving, and enhancing our
customer's lifestyles and providing better retirement outcomes. Led by
over 8,000 employees, Lincoln Financial provides the tools and advice to
help individuals take charge of their futures.
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates.
Specialties
Retirement Solutions,
Life and Annuities,
Group Protection
Careers at Lincoln Financial Group
At Lincoln Financial, we love what we do. We know
that the work we do is meaningful - empowering our clients to take
charge of their lives. Our employees are smart, dedicated professionals
who respect each other and care deeply about doing right by our clients,
our business partners and our colleagues. We thrive in a culture of
excellence that embraces diversity, endorses learning & career
development, and supports us as we make meaningful contributions on the
job and in our communities.
Service Overview
Our life insurance products/solutions offer
protection from life’s unforeseen risks and the power to leverage
assets, so our clients can accomplish more.
Financial protection for our clients' loved ones and their business
Income replacement options
Supplemental retirement income
Tax advantages
Group benefits
Service Overview
Our group protection products/solutions offer a
full suite of additional benefits to supplement an employer’s basic
plan offerings. These include dental, vision, accident, short- and
long-term disability, and employee assistance programs. Any of these
solutions can be added to an employer's plan to create a robust benefits
suite; these are offered as an employer-paid or voluntary
(employee-paid) benefit.
Retirement plan services
Service Overview
Our Retirement Plan Services business helps
savers boost their retirement readiness through their employer-sponsored
plans. We help people get to and through their retirement years by
offering personalized services, education and solutions.
Income
Service Overview
Our income products/solutions are long-term
savings vehicles to help individuals generate retirement income. These
products are designed to grow and protect their money in the years
leading up to retirement and then turn that money into an income stream
to fund living expenses during retirement.
Welcome to the Texas Center for Massage Therapy!
Dallas | Houston
Do you want a career that offers the satisfaction of helping
people and a work environment that is positive and exciting? With the
education you will receive at the Texas Center for Massage Therapy, that
career can be yours.
Massage therapy is a flexible and rewarding career in which
you not only take care of others – you also take care of yourself! You
can work in a resort spa, cruise ship, sports clinic, destination spa,
or a day spa close to home. You can even start your own private
practice!
Why choose the Texas Center for
Massage Therapy?
Graduate in as little as 7½ months!
Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.
Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET).
Graduate with valuable hands-on experience in our student clinic.
Career placement assistance is provided to all of our students and graduates.
Day or evening classes are available.
The Texas Center for Massage Therapy is a member of the
Steiner Education Group, which operates massage therapy schools and skin
care schools at 31 campuses in 14 states. The mission of the Steiner
Education Group (SEG) is to provide high-quality, comprehensive training
programs that prepare graduates for successful careers in massage
therapy, skin care, and related health and wellness fields.
schools have been training massage therapists since 1980 …
and the Texas Center for Massage Therapy is the product of those 30
years of experience. With tens of thousands of graduates working all
over the world, SEG schools are known throughout the industry for
producing some of the most talented massage therapists in the nation.
Finally, a massage school with a reputation big enough for the state of Texas.
Donate your old or unwanted vehicle and help us prevent youth homelessness.
The
Donate Your Car program is a free and fast alternative to selling or
trading. It is an easy way to make a significant contribution to the
lives of young Australians who are homeless or at risk of becoming
homeless.
The process is simple!
5 quick steps to donating
1. Before you fill in the donation form below, please make sure that:
You have the registration details and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
You have the year, make and model details.
The vehicle is located within 75 km of Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Perth, Hobart or Adelaide.
The vehicle is easily accessible for a towing truck (the towing truck driver will be by himself and cannot jump start or push the vehicle).
2. Complete your donation form. If you have any questions or would like a hardcopy form sent out just give us a call on 1800 801 633. 3.Cancel your registration, remove the number plates and hand them in to your local transport authority. 4.We
will call you to arrange collection of your vehicle, and your vehicle
gets collected through our Platinum Partner, Manheim, on the date
specified by you. 5.Your
vehicle goes to auction at Manheim and 100% of the proceeds from the
sale of your vehicle go towards preventing youth homelessness. Thank you!
Do you want to know more about the collection, the auction or the tax deductibility? Visit our FAQs page!
Things you should know
We accept cars, boats with trailers, caravans, motorbikes, box trailers, trucks etc.
We accept all types of vehicles, running, not running, classics, lightly used and even the end of life vehicles.
We only need three business days to organise the towing truck after we get your online form.
We receive 100% of the proceeds from the sale of your vehicle- all towing and auction services are kindly donated by Manheim.
All vehicles are eligible for a tax deduction based on the amount the vehicle is sold for at auction. All vehicles valued by the ATO at more than $5000 are eligible for a tax deduction based on the current market value.
Kids Under Cover is a registered Not For Profit organisation that works to prevent youth homelessness.Kids
Under Cover is the only organisation in Australia offering a unique
combination of building homes and providing scholarships and mentors for
homeless and at-risk young people.
Since we started in 1989, Kids Under Cover has supported more than 2,800 young people at risk of homelessness with a secure home through our Studio Program.
For the young person the Studio provides an opportunity to develop
independent living skills and to stay connected with their family. More
importantly, it prevents young people from becoming homeless.
Our Scholarship Program helps
young people to stay engaged with education. By covering education
expenses, young people are empowered to continue their study or job
training. This can lead to more positive employment opportunities,
ensuring the young person has a productive, functioning place in their
community.
Our Mentoring Program offers
positive role models who connect with young people and offer guidance,
support and encouragement. As confidence, self-esteem and social skills
improve, young people are in a better position to make life-changing
decisions.
With our programs young people are empowered to build a brighter future for themselves.
Kids Under Cover changes lives
If you have any questions, please call us on 1800 801 633.
The Donate Your Car program is proudly supported by:
A huge cyclone that has forced as many as 500,000 people to flee their homes has made landfall in eastern India.
Winds were measured at 200 km/h (125mph) as Cyclone Phailin
hit the coast near Gopalpur, Orissa state, at about 21:15 (15:45 GMT).
Authorities had predicted a storm surge of at least 3m (10ft) that was expected to cause extensive damage.
Officials say they are better prepared than in 1999 when a cyclone killed thousands of people in Orissa.
Cyclone Phailin has been classed as "very severe", and the
head of India's Meteorological Office, LS Rathore, said it would remain
in that category for six hours before losing strength.
The eye of the storm was moving at 10-15 km/h (6-9mph), he said.
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reported heavy rain and high winds lashing Gopalpur as the cyclone made landfall. 'Apocalyptic devastation'
The storm has ripped up trees and road signs, and cut power
supplies in some areas. There were reports of window panes being
shattered and roofs being blown off.
Five deaths were linked to the cyclone by Indian media, four attributed to falling trees and one to a house collapse.
Another BBC reporter, Andrew North, spoke of a scene of
apocalyptic devastation in Brahmapur, just inland from where the cyclone
reached the coast.
Store signs and other debris were being pitched high in the
air by storm gusts and elaborate decorations for a major Hindu festival
were strewn over the main road.
Officials had earlier said that no-one would be allowed to
stay in mud and thatched houses along the coast of Orissa and Andhra
Pradesh states, but some residents said they wanted to stay put.
"Many people refused to move, had to be convinced, and at
times the police had to forcefully move them to safe places," said Home
Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
The army has been placed on standby for emergency and relief
operations. Helicopters and food packages were ready to be dropped in
the storm-affected areas.
Hours before the cyclone made landfall it was generating winds of 240
km/h (150mph) over the Bay of Bengal. Most of those evacuated were in
Orissa state.
Sushant Sahoo, a resident of Orissa's state capital,
Bhubaneswar, told the BBC that it had been raining there since the
morning, and the streets were empty.
"We have no electricity, it is very dark right now and very grim," he said.
"I have dry food and candles. The local government has been good at getting everyone prepared and taking care of people."
India's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by
cyclonic storms between April and November that cause deaths and
widespread damage to property.
In December 2011, Cyclone Thane hit the southern state of Tamil Nadu, killing dozens of people.
Bhubaneswar:
As Odisha braced for Cyclone 'Phailin', heavy rains accompanied with
gusty winds Saturday lashed the coastal belt of the state where a woman
was killed after a tree fell on her and 18 fishermen were trapped on a
trawler near Paradip.
The woman identified as Jayanti Raut (42)
died after a tree fell on her in the morning amid gusty winds, while she
was plucking flowers near her house, said special relief commissioner P
K Mohapatra.
"18 fishermen were reported trapped around 4km
from Paradip in the sea on a fishing trawler. Though they contacted the
Coast Guard, rescue operations could not be conducted as the sea is
extremely rough.
"We have contacted the authorities of IOC and
have sought help from their rescue team," said state revenue and
disaster minister S N Patro.
Revenue Divisional Commissioner
(Central Division) Arvind Padhee has been asked to coordinate rescue
operations of these trapped fishermen and "we have asked the police to
trace the owner of the trawler and arrest him," Patro said.
More
than 3.61 lakh people have already been evacuated from the six coastal
districts of Odisha. 1.2 lakh people have been shifted from the coastal
belt of Ganjam and Gopalpur areas, Mohapatra said.
Reports from
Puri said that sea water gushed into Tandaghar and Keutajanga villages
of Astarang and Brahmagiri blocks in the district last evening, even as
the administration shifted people to safer places.
Though the
district administration evacuated around 45,000 people from the coast to
safe places, a large number of fishermen, who were shifted from
Chandrabhaga and Konark, returned.
"It was a major cause of concern for us," an official engaged in evacuation operation said.
Although
roads leading to the 12th century Jagannath Temple wore a deserted
look, all the intricate rituals were continuing and the temple
administration said darshan of the deities was on.
The Puri
district administration had vacated about 400 hotels in the city and the
pilgrims were advised to move to Bhubaneswar or other places. Passenger
buses and trains originating from Puri were ferrying hundreds of
tourists in anticipation of the cyclone.
A report from Paradip
said the port town was experiencing heavy rains accompanied by windspeed
and high tides were lashing the coast.
Production in the
industries including PPT, PPL, IIFCO had been stopped and many workers
fled the place out of fear during the last two days, anticipating that
the port town might be battered by the imminent cyclone, sources said.
Cyclonic
storm Phailin is currently positioned just 260 km off the coast of
Gopalpur in Odisha, which is likely to be epicentre of the storm.
Tendulkar is the highest scorer in both Tests and ODIs, with 15,837 runs in 198 Tests and 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs.
He made his international debut aged 16 in
November 1989 and last year became the only batsman in the history of
the game to reach
100 international centuries.
"All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for
India. I have been living this dream every day for the last 24 years,"
Tendulkar said.
He played his final Twenty20 match
last weekend in the Champions League T20 final
between his Mumbai Indians team and a Rajasthan Royals side led by
another former India skipper, his long-standing team-mate Rahul Dravid.
Tendulkar's final appearances will also take place in
India and he said: "It's been a huge honour to have represented my
country and played all over the world. I look forward to playing my
200th Test match on home soil, as I call it a day."
He also holds the record for the most number of Test appearances,
with Australians Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh joint second on 168,
followed by Rahul Dravid (164) and South African Jacques Kallis, who is
still playing, on 162.
The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India, N Srinivasan, said: "He is without doubt the greatest cricketer
India has produced.
"In fact, one should really say he ranks among the top
of all-time great sportspersons in the world. No one has served Indian
cricket as Sachin has.
"He has truly been an ambassador for India and Indian
cricket. He has been an inspiration for generations of sportsmen, not
just cricketers.
"We respect his decision to retire, although many of us can't imagine an Indian team without Sachin."
Tendulkar was tipped for greatness from an
early age, and whilst still at school in 1988 he made an unbeaten 326
in a stand of 664 with Vinod Kambli in the semi-finals of the Harris
Shield.
His first Test century came in his 14th innings and was against England at Old Trafford in 1990.
There were six double centuries, the first of which came against New Zealand in 1999 and the most recent a
214 against Australia
in Bangalore in October 2010, with his highest score an unbeaten 248 against Bangladesh in 2004.
Tendulkar racked up 16 Test hundreds before he turned
25 and in 2000 became the first man to score 50 international tons,
while in 2010 he became the first double centurion in a one-day
international.
It was hoped his 100th international hundred would be
in the 2,000th Test match, which was against England at the home of
cricket, Lord's, in 2011 but he was dismissed for 34 and 12 and the feat
was achieved in an ODI the following year.
One of his most memorable Test centuries was an unbeaten 103 that inspired India to victory
against England in December 2008
and came shortly after
terror attacks
hit his home city of Mumbai.
Tendulkar was popular across the world, and in 1992
became the first overseas player to sign for Yorkshire, scoring more
than 1,000 runs in the summer.
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said on
Twitter:
"Perfect symmetry to Sachin's retirement: 200th Test, not
confirmed, surely to be played in Mumbai. Also a charming man to deal
with, which I have been fortunate to do many times."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan
tweeted:
"One of the greatest ever Sachin Tendulkar is retiring. One of my heroes and an absolute joy to play against."
And England batsman Kevin Pietersen also took to
Twitter
to dub Tendulkar: "Undisputed Champion of Cricket!"
Soon, visa on arrival for 40 more nations, senior tourists
NEW DELHI: India is set to roll out the red carpet for foreign tourists.
The government on Monday cleared a slew of measures including extending
visa on arrival (VoA) to 40 countries, establishing an online
application system for visas and facilitating visa on arrival for
pensioners and those attending conferences.
The decision means foreign tourists will be able to apply for an Indian
visa from the comfort of their homes while citizens from 40 countries
including the US, the UK, Germany, France, Brazil, Russia and China
among others will avail visa on arrival when they land on Indian shores.
The government has also agreed to extend visa on arrival to foreign
travelers above 60 years of age from all countries and cut down the time
taken to give visas to groups that are keen to attend conventions.
"There has to be a change in mindset towards the way we treat foreign
tourists. All representatives of government agreed on extending visa on
arrival to 40 countries and initiating an online system as soon as
possible," planning minister Rajeev Shukla said.
The ministries of tourism and home affairs have been tasked with
preparing a roadmap since initiating the visa on arrival scheme will
require a large amount of infrastructure and manpower. So far, citizens
of around 11 countries including Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam can avail visa on arrival.
The government is closely reviewing the online application systems
adopted by Sri Lanka where only electronic visas are issued for tourists
on short visits.
A consensus was reached on these issues during a high level meeting convened here on Monday by the Planning Commission.
"We want to develop a world class visa regime. I am going to write to
the home minister with the outcomes of the meeting aimed at liberalizing
the visa regime," Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh
Ahluwalia told TOI.
The meeting included the national security advisor, Ahluwalia, representatives from the PMO, Intelligence Bureau, and ministries of external affairs, home and tourism.
"There was broad consensus on simplifying online visa system, relaxing
visa regime for all types of conferences and senior citizen foreign
tourist or foreign pensioners," Shukla said.
According to the
minister, there are many senior citizens, including pensioners, who want
to visit India. The government has decided to relax visa norms for a
group of four such foreign tourists. But that decision has not been
implemented so far. The home ministry was of the view that visa on arrival could be expanded to include more countries, but there is shortage of staff.
"Tourism ministry was willing to share its budget with the home
ministry so that more officers can be posted on immigration counters
that could facilitate visa on arrival," Ahluwalia said.
Another
suggestion was to bring down the number of categories of visas from the
existing 16 to just three -- employment, business and visitor.
It was also decided that visa on arrival visa facility would be
extended to more airports like Goa, Gaya, Chandigarh and Amritsar which
have a large flow of foreign tourists.
At present, visa on
arrival facility is available at international airports of Delhi,
Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kochi and
Thiruvananthapuram.
The move
has been initiated after growing realization that the tourism sector
can act as a bridge in the current account deficit crisis that India is
facing. During 2012-13, CAD was at an all-time high of 4.8% of GDP or $88.2 billion. Government proposes to bring it down to $70 billion or 3.8% of GDP.
According to sources, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had also discussed the issue with top officials of ministries like tourism for relaxing visa norms for more countries.
In 2012, India received 6.58 million foreign tourists, up 4.3% over the previous year. India's foreign exchange
earnings in 2012 from tourists were $17.74 billion, showing an increase
of 7.1% year-on-year. However, the last few months have seen a
dollarless growth.
Making it easy for
foreigners to visit India should be high on any government's agenda
given the tourism industry's enormous potential to create jobs and earn
foreign exchange, both of which are of critical importance at the
moment. Tourism is the single largest employer worldwide and that's a
big plus for a labour surplus economy such as ours. Tourist-friendly
measures such as visa-on-arrival and online visa application should be
extended to as many countries as possible. We hope that the impetus
provided by Chiranjeevi continues even if he quits the Cabinet. While
relaxing our restrictive visa regime is a good first step, much more
needs to be done to attract visitors to India in terms of improving our
soft and hard infrastructure.
They have a lifelong love affair which began with an early
wedding and stayed alive through an affair, divorce and marriages to
other people
Back together: Ollie and Wills Holmes at their second wedding
Every chance she gets, newlywed Ollie Holmes likes to stare at her solitaire engagement ring.
The glint of the gold and sparkle of the diamond remind her how her romance with husband Wills has endured.
Theirs
is a story of lifelong love that began with an early marriage and
stayed alive through an affair, divorce and marriages to other people.
They finally found their happy ending this summer with their second wedding – a full 58 years after the first.
And the moment they came back together was like a scene from a romantic film.
Both
free for the first time in many years, Wills and Ollie spent hours
talking at a family party – then he gave her a passionate kiss at the
top of the stairs.
She recalls: “I heard our grandchildren
shouting from the bottom of the stairs, ‘Grandad’s kissing Grandma!
Grandad’s kissing Grandma!’ When we came downstairs everyone was smiling
and laughing.”
Explaining why they ever parted, Ollie, 76, says:
“I really was so young when Wills and I first married and after years
together life really took its toll. We didn’t find each other so
exciting.
“I met another guy and fell in love. Wills tried to get
me back and deep in my heart I didn’t think I’d done the right thing,
but felt I’d burned my bridges.
“But falling in love with him all over again was so magical. It makes me realise I’m lucky to have a second chance.”
Ollie was just 14 when she met Wills, now 79.
They
grew up in the same streets of Darlaston, West Midlands, and were
introduced by Wills’ younger sister Brenda at her 15th birthday party.
“I
really liked him from the start but he was with another girl,” recalls
Ollie. “I knew it was cheeky but I still flirted with him and we chatted
for a while.
"There was a spark neither of us could ignore.”
Young love: Ollie and Wills in their first ever picture together in 1951
Neville Williams
Another three years went by before their first date but then
it wasn’t long before Wills proposed – he asked Ollie to be his bride on
Christmas Eve, 1954.
She says: “He gave me this beautiful
solitaire diamond on a gold band. I said yes and we planned our wedding
for the following Christmas.
“I wore a simple white dress and borrowed my veil, gloves and shoes.”
Wills went straight back to his role as an Army corporal so they didn’t have a honeymoon.
And it was two years before he came home and moved in with Ollie and her mum.
He found a job as an engineer, she worked as a clerk and four years later their son Scott was born.
“Then we felt like we were a proper family,” she says.
But a few years later they were spending more and more time apart.
Ollie
says: “I was going out on my own, which is no good in a marriage. We
used to argue. I think if we’d had our own house it would have been
easier.”
Then, at a friend’s wedding, Ollie found herself falling for another man.
“You
don’t have an affair if everything is wonderful in your marriage,” she
recalls. “A lot of of it was my fault but it wasn’t all me. It went on
for quite a few years. I think Wills knew – but we never talked about
it.”
They had another child, daughter Lisa. But six months later
Ollie took the children and moved in with new love Carl in Tamworth,
Staffs.
She recalls: “Wills begged me to come back. My mum and his parents did as well. They were absolutely distraught.”
The
couple shared custody of the children and Wills would see them most
weekends. Remarkably, they stayed friends and Wills would even drive her
back to Tamworth.
“He wouldn’t let me go on the bus,” Ollie says. “We never fell out. We always kept in touch because of the children.”
Wills adds: “I never felt angry about it. It was as much my fault as Ollie’s.We had both grown apart.”
Ollie
went on to have four children with Carl and they wed in 1983.
Meanwhile, Wills met and married someone else, then after losing his
second wife he married again.
Ollie admits: “I still had feelings for him but I didn’t show them. He never said anything to me.”
Then three years ago, Carl died from a heart problem. “Wills called me up to say how sorry he was, which was nice.”
Married life: Ollie and Wills on their first first wedding day
Neville Williams
And a year later, Wills lost his third wife.
Ollie says:
“My youngest daughter called to tell me and I thought she said Wills
had died. My heart just stopped. It really shocked me.”
She realised how deeply she still cared about her ex-husband but kept her feelings secret – until that fateful family party.
She
says: “Lisa asked if she could bring Wills to the Boxing Day party my
daughter Carla was throwing. I told her it was a fabulous idea.”
On the day she had butterflies when she came face-to-face with her first love.
“I
was so excited,” she says. “We sat in the conservatory chatting for
hours. When he went upstairs I followed him. I wanted two minutes on our
own because all eyes were on us.
“Before I could say anything he
got hold of me and gave me this great big kiss. It was wonderful. You
know if the kiss is right, everything is right. That’s when I heard the
grandchildren shouting, ‘Grandad’s kissing Grandma!’?”
Wills adds: “I just wanted to kiss her. We both knew at that moment in time we would be together. It was just wonderful.”
That
night he stayed over and never really left. Ollie says: “It was just
like when we were young and he first came out of the Army.”
But they were careful not to rush into things.
“Both
of us were going through a bereavement and didn’t want to make any
life-changing decisions unless we were absolutely sure.
“But when we’d been together six months Lisa handed me a ring and said, ‘Here you are mum, I think you might be needing that.’
“It was my engagement ring. I’d given it to her when she started university.”
When
the year was up, Wills got down on one knee and told Ollie: “I love
you. I have always loved you. This is our second chance and I think
we’ve finally found our way to each other. Let’s get married again.”
Ollie recalls: “I shouted yippee!”
So in August this year they married again.
“It
was a very emotional day,” says Ollie. “After all the years apart, I
wanted Wills with me so we walked down the aisle to Barry White’s My
First, My Last, My Everything.”
Wills adds: “We’re both older but Ollie was just as lovely as the first wedding 58 years earlier.”
This time they did have a honeymoon, going back to the Spanish resort where they went on their first holiday abroad together.
Ollie says: “We had a fabulous time. It brought back so many memories.”
Despite spending so many years apart, Ollie says she wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“I think if we’d stayed together we wouldn’t have been as happy as we are now,” she says.
“Now,
we’re older, wiser and I’ve learnt a lot from life. They say you never
forget your first love and for me it’s absolutely true.”
While many free and premium solutions for remotely accessing Windows
machines have been available for a while from third parties such as
Citrix and Wyse, this is the first time Microsoft itself has brought
this functionality to third-party mobile devices.
While many free and premium solutions for remotely accessing Windows
machines have been available for a while from third parties such as
Citrix and Wyse, this is the first time Microsoft itself has brought
this functionality to third-party mobile devices.
Kids Under Cover is a registered Not For Profit organisation that works to prevent youth homelessness.
