GROWING TREND OF THE CUSTOM BOOKMARKS IN AUSTRALIA

October 6, 2020

The changes in the world used to be predictable in the past but not now since their pace has been multiplied with an infinite number. Daily we witness something unique and astonishing being revealed in the market that we wouldn’t even have dreamt of. This gives us the signs that the era of the old products has been ended and now if a single product cannot be utilized for more than one purpose then it is of no use. This rule is being applied to almost all the products in the world and it has also touched the printing sector. In the past, we have witnessed the bookmarks made of ribbon and paper. But now the world has opened the gates for the custom bookmarks. This is a true shift in trends.

WHY THESE CUSTOM BOOKMARKS GAIN SO MUCH VALUE IN THE MARKET OF AUSTRALIA:

A product is given importance in the market based on its usage and the characteristics and the specifications that it offers to the consumers. If the number of benefits is higher than the importance of that product will gradually increase in the market. The same is the case with the custom bookmarks that are being used all around the globe since they serve more purposes rather than staying there between the pages that make them more valuable in the eyes of the people. The suppliers and the manufacturers available in the market also appreciate these characteristics because these kinds of products yield sales at the end of the day.

WHY THE TREND OF THE CUSTOM BOOKMARKS IS GROWING:

The trend of the custom bookmarks is increasing with every passing day and all thanks to the custom bookmarks Australian companies are bringing to the market. They have instantly raised the level of the sales and production of the custom bookmarks in the market. Also, they have proved to be the best poster card for the attraction of the customers. These custom bookmarks are the tool that can be used for literary uses, gift purposes, marketing purposes, and memorial purposes. It is their multiple applications that make them so valuable and increases their demands in the printing and packaging industry.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CUSTOM BOOKMARKS AND THEIR USAGE:

If we go through every single type of custom bookmarks, then it will take days for us to even know the important types of custom bookmarks. But there are some of the best custom bookmarks types that people should be aware of:

The custom bookmarks for literary uses
The marketing custom bookmarks
The memorial custom bookmarks
The personalized custom bookmarks
The custom bookmarks designed as gifts

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THESE CUSTOM BOOKMARKS:

Knowing about the benefits of a product makes it more valuable for that person since now we can utilize it in a more appropriate way to yield more benefits. Some of the advantages of the custom bookmarks are enlisted below for the enhancement of your knowledge:

The custom bookmarks are used as gifts to be passed on to the students from the institutions or to our loved ones to enhance their interest in learning and reading.
These custom bookmarks can also be printed as memorials on the funerals or the anniversaries so that the late can be remembered whenever a person lays his eyes on these custom bookmarks.
These custom bookmarks can also be used as marketing tools. Since they are something that stays in front of the eyes most of the time and if used properly then it can yield many marketing benefits.
These custom bookmarks can also be printed as tickets and vouchers to some special outlets providing different incentives to intrigue the people to come to know about that brand. Such as cinema tickets and shopping vouchers can be the best examples of custom bookmarks printing.

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE THESE CUSTOM BOOKMARKS:

The customization of these cheap custom bookmarks Australia offers is not something like rocket science or that would require special degrees. But in fact, the only thing required for such a purpose is the creative skills of a person. To design the best custom bookmarks, a person must know about the purpose that he wants these custom bookmarks to serve. If you are printing custom bookmarks for marketing purposes, then you should make them as attractive as possible and make the focal point of those custom bookmarks the name of the brand whom you want to market. If you want to use them as memorials then it would be better if you add a picture of that person full of life on that custom bookmarks so that he or she can be remembered in the same manner. They can also be developed as tickets and vouchers for additional marketing.

WHERE CAN ONE FIND THESE CUSTOM BOOKMARKS WITH THEIR BEST RATES:

If your search is directed towards the custom bookmarks cheaply available in the market then you should go for the custom bookmarks gift printed, designed for being used as a gift item for the people. If you are looking for the best custom bookmarks Australia is the best place o start your search or otherwise you will completely lose yourself in this maze of the printing and packaging industry.

ARE THESE CUSTOM BOOKMARKS READY TO MEET THE LATEST TRENDS:

People around the world nowadays prefer to use the products that have a modern touch associated with them. if these products do not stand true to the latest trends then they lose all of their charm and the interest of the customer. This results in the lowering of the bar of the demand for these products. The same is the case with the custom bookmarks. But since they are designed keeping the latest trends in mind. This will help them thrive.

CONCLUSION:

Not every product last long in this market. So we must make sure that the customer never loses his interest in our product or otherwise we can bid farewell to the custom bookmarks. Keeping them up to date with the latest trends is something that requires immediate attention.

Startup companies – 3 important Beginning tips for founders

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October 5, 2020

A start-up translates as “approach or commissioning” and is a symbol for the establishment of a new company. Companies that are in their first business phase, have creative, new or unusual ideas that they want to realize first on a small scale and later on a large scale are to be identified as start-ups. The growth potential is significant, because once the company has “made it” it can expand, sell part of it or even set up branches. The number of start-ups has increased rapidly, especially due to the Internet age, and enriches the corporate landscape with many creative ideas and innovations. The factor of the new idea is important for a functioning business model. The German Start-up Monitor defines three characteristics:

Age: Startups are younger than 10 years
The innovation: Startups are highly innovative with their technology / and or their business model
The growth: Startups have a significant increase in employees and / or sales

Table Of Contents

1 USA the founding country
2 Tip 1: the right idea
- 2.1 Problem – solution
- 2.2 Developing ideas
3 Tip 2: financing
4 Corporate loan
5 Tip 3: Find the right type of company

USA the founding country

In 2013, according to the Start-Up Monitor, there were 406,000 start-ups in the USA without an explicit business idea and 462,000 other start-ups, but the USA only ranks 22nd out of 26 innovation-based economies. The experts see a need for action here because there is a lack of growth capital. The trend is clearly towards technology, apps and the still booming internet.

The reasons for the decreased interest in founding start-ups are, on the one hand, a relatively satisfactory situation on the labor market and, on the other hand, the lack of financial resources. However, in recent years the reasons for doing business have outweighed the lack of employment alternatives. With a basic business plan and sustainable funding, a start-up can become a huge success.

Tip 1: the right idea

There are many ideas, sometimes good, sometimes not so good, but most can usually be capitalized on. A large number of German start-ups arise from a release from existing companies, a kind of “offshoot” with new ideas. However, some starters also deal with completely unknown innovations and they should prepare themselves very well for the development phase. There are a few ways and methods of getting an idea:

Problem – solution

Finding solutions to the existing problems of many people is still one of the most successful concepts for a start-up. Whoever knows what people need or what makes their life easier, can enrich it and pay attention to a current look or mood, cannot do so much wrong.

Developing ideas

The improvement of existing products, services or services should not be underestimated, because many customers and users give their feedback regularly and want changes that they often do not receive. Anyone who recognizes the potential for improvement can develop their own idea from it. Examples from Seth Nicolson, he created the basic tool Facebook video downloader online. And he is having a lot today.

Tip 2: financing

Crowdfunding

Over the past ten years, crowdfunding has become an important institution for generating start-up capital for young companies. Whether Startnext, VisionBakery, Betterplace or Kickstarter – the platforms for artists, tinkerers, socially committed people and young entrepreneurs are on the advance. In most cases, crowdfunding means that a product or service is offered which, with the help of the “crowd”, either gets the realization or gets the start-up capital for the production. The deposit of certain amounts of money on “prepayment” enables some bonus gifts, such as receiving the finished product first and getting additional features before everyone else. Successful projects at Startnext are, for example, the “Original Unverpackt” supermarkt in Berlin Kreuzberg or the financing of the Internet TV station “Störsender”, which deliberately wants to avoid advertising. Tips for financing:

See other projects
Become a supporter yourself
Define clear messages
Shoot your own video for the performance

Business angel

Business angels are private investors who invest money in the new company in the early start-up phase and who support the founders with their own knowledge and advice. They receive shares in the company and are co-owners, who leave the reins to the young founders. The angels usually invest four to seven years and then sell the stake, ideally of course at a profit. There are 3,000 active business angels in Germany, most of whom have come together in networks such as Germany’s Business Angels Network .

Ventures capitalists

Venture capitalists are investors who invest in a company at high risk. They often promote several business ideas at the same time, knowing that they may lose the money. However, since they hold large stakes in the startups, the profits can add up significantly.

Corporate loan

The banking crisis has made it difficult for many start-ups to get a bank loan. Development banks like KfW offer some options with terms of up to five years and low interest rates. An application can be submitted by freelancers, founders and existing start-ups with up to three years of business activity. Tips under kfw.de .

Tip 3: Find the right type of company

Many self-employed people choose the sole proprietorship because there is no liability capital, nor are formation formalities necessary. However, profits are taxable at the personal tax rate and the freelancer is liable with his private company.

The civil law society (GbR) is often chosen, which consists of two or more people who want to work together. The establishment is necessary without formalities and entry in the commercial register and with an annual profit of 50,000 euros only an income statement has to be submitted.

For a GmbH, a capital contribution of 25,000 euros must be available as liability capital and it is subject to the accounting rules of the Commercial Code. This blog entry gives helpful tips when founding a GmbH, including taxation and tips for the right time to set up.

Nearly 16,000 virus cases missed after IT error

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October 5, 2020

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A technical glitch that meant nearly 16,000 cases of coronavirus went unreported has delayed efforts to trace contacts of people who tested positive.

Public Health England said 15,841 cases between 25 September and 2 October were left out of the UK daily case figures.

They were then added in to reach Saturday’s figure of 12,872 new cases and Sunday’s 22,961 figure.

PHE said all those who tested positive had been informed. But it means others in close contact with them were not.

The issue has been resolved, PHE said, with outstanding cases passed on to tracers by 01:00 BST on Saturday.

The technical issue also means that the daily case totals reported on the government’s coronavirus dashboard over the past week have been lower than the true number.

BBC health editor Hugh Pym said daily figures for the end of the week were “actually nearer 11,000”, rather than the about 7,000 reported.

Labour has described the glitch as “shambolic”.

The BBC has been told by senior public health officials in the north-west of England that a significant proportion of the unreported cases are from the area.

Cities such as Liverpool and Manchester already have among the highest infection rates in the country, at about 10 times the national average.

BBC analysis found the number of cases reported for the week to 1 October increased by 92.6% in the north west after taking in the missing tests – with similar rises reflected across England.

The increase is mostly down to the missing tests, but the figures also included some results which came back after 2 October.

Nearly 16,000 virus cases missed after IT error — Media captionBoris Johnson: “I can’t give you those figures but all those people are being contacted”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the cases data had been “truncated” and “lost”, but added all people who had tested positive had been contacted and the tracers were “now working through all the contacts”.

How many cases are there in your area?
What are the Covid rules where you live?

Meanwhile, the head of the government’s vaccine taskforce, Kate Bingham, has told the Financial Times that less than half of the UK population could be vaccinated against coronavirus.

“There is going to be no vaccination of people under 18,” she said. “It’s an adult-only vaccine for people over 50, focusing on health workers, care home workers and the vulnerable.”

Mr Johnson has warned it could be “bumpy through to Christmas” and beyond as the UK deals with coronavirus.

Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr on Sunday, the PM said there was “hope” of beating Covid, and called on the public to “act fearlessly but with common sense”.

In an interview with the Sun, Rishi Sunak has defended his Eat Out to Help Out scheme, saying he had “no regrets”, after suggestions it may have helped fuel the second wave of coronavirus cases.

At a time when the testing system has come under intense scrutiny after reports of delays and a system struggling to keep up with demand, the latest revelation could not have come at a more awkward moment for the government at Westminster.

Because the nearly 16,000 extra positive test results had been not entered into the test and trace system, their recent contacts were not immediately followed up.

Experts advise that ideally contacts should be tracked down within 48 hours.

Officials say the technical problem – thought to be IT related – has been resolved, with all the new cases added into totals reported over the weekend.

But all this will hardly improve public confidence in the testing system in England.

And it muddies the waters for policy makers and officials trying to track the spread of the virus at what the prime minister has called a “critical moment”.

On Sunday, the government’s coronavirus dashboard said that, as of 09:00 BST, there had been a further 22,961 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 502,978.

Another 33 people were reported to have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Sunday.

In full: Andrew Marr’s interview with Boris Johnson
Ministers have ‘lost control of virus’ – Starmer

Public Health England’s interim chief executive Michael Brodie said a “technical issue” was identified overnight on Friday, 2 October in the process that transfers Covid-19 positive lab results into reporting dashboards. He said the majority of the unreported cases had occurred in the “most recent days”.

It was caused by some data files reporting positive test results exceeding the maximum file size.

Mr Brodie said they worked with NHS Test and Trace to “quickly resolve the issue and transferred all outstanding cases immediately into the NHS Test and Trace contact tracing system”.

“We fully understand the concern this may cause and further robust measures have been put in place as a result,” he said.

Test and Trace and Public Health England joint medical adviser Susan Hopkins said a thorough risk assessment had been undertaken “to ensure outstanding cases were prioritised for contact tracing effectively”.

PHE said NHS Test and Trace have made sure there are enough contact tracers working, and are working with local teams to ensure they also have sufficient resources to be urgently able to contact all cases.

The number of call attempts is being increased from 10 to 15 over 96 hours.

There have been clear problems with the government’s Test and Trace data, but they do not change our view of the UK’s trajectory.

Cases surged at the beginning of September, they may still be climbing, but not as quickly as anticipated just a few weeks ago.

This perspective comes from three key sets of data – the Office for National Statistics, the React study by Imperial College London and the Covid symptom tracker app.

None are blighted by either the current issues with the Test and Trace data or by people struggling to access a test.

The real fallout of the weekend’s statistical chaos is not the numbers, but the people who should have been contact-traced, told to quarantine and instead may have been unwittingly passing on the virus.

Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “This is shambolic and people across the country will be understandably alarmed.”

He called for Health Secretary Matt Hancock to explain “what on earth has happened” and what he plans to do to fix test and trace.

Mr Hancock is due to update MPs about coronavirus on Monday afternoon.

Bridget Phillipson, shadow chief secretary to the treasury, told BBC Breakfast she wanted to know whether it had had “any impact on government decision making around local restrictions”.

PHE data shows Manchester now has the highest rate of infection in England, at 495.6 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 1 October, from 223.2 the week before. Liverpool has the second highest rate, up to 456.4 from 287.1 per 100,000. Knowsley in Merseyside, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leeds and Sheffield have also seen sharp rises.

News of the glitch in the daily count first emerged late on Saturday, when the UK announced more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time since mass testing began.

Getty Images

Under-reported figures

From 25 Sept to 2 Oct

50,786 Cases initially reported by PHE
15,841 Unreported cases, missed due to IT error

8 days of incomplete data
1,980cases per day, on average, were missed in that time
48 hoursIdeal time limit for tracing contacts after positive test

Source: PHE and gov.uk

The government said the technical issue meant some cases during the week were not recorded at the time, so were included in Saturday’s data.

The daily total rose from 4,044 on Monday to a then-high of 7,143 on Tuesday. However, over the next four days the daily total remained stable at a time when continued increases might have been expected.

Then came the big leap in numbers – a far bigger day-on-day increase than at any time in the entire pandemic – which was announced on Saturday, five hours later than usual, and was accompanied by the government explanation.

‘PROFESSOR LOCKDOWN’: How worried is Neil Ferguson about the spread of this pandemic?
LONG COVID: What’s the science behind the long term symptoms?

Have you recently tested positive? Have you been contacted by test and trace? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
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If you are reading this page and can’t see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

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Tumbled Pavers – All You Need to Know!

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October 5, 2020

We all want to keep doing minor and major changes to our house in order to let it look beautiful. In this context, doing needed changes to Tumbled Pavers is quite important. Have you been hunting to upgrade your driveway, walkway, patio, or other outdoor living space with your travertine pavers, you will have a wide array of amazing options in front of you. One of the decisions you would be needed to make is if you are going to use the best tumbled or not-tumbled pavers. But before that, you need to choose the size and shade of the material.

Before making this decision, you need to understand the difference between the two sorts of pavers and the advantages you may offer. You may read the DIY travertine installation to make sure that how it would work.

Why Should You Choose Tumbled Pavers

Generally, every paver can be tumbled indeed. Tumbled Pavers are supposed to get their name from their manufacturing process where they are installed in a large round machine engaged in nonstop tumbling the pavers. The best thing is that it produces a more classic “Old World” look pretty much similar to a European Chateau or Italian Villa.

Hand Customization Option At Your Fingertips

The surface is rough as well as the corners do hold a weathered and aged appearance. Because of hand customization and extra steps in the process is considered the reason for the small enhancement in cost. Since it is unique as well as holds a specific look, tumbled pavers are considered the best to go ahead.

Incredible Options Are Available

The first thing you need to know is why do you need to choose Tumbled Pavers. The fact cannot be ignored that there are many options already available at the forefront. You need to emphasize the right option indeed to get the most out of it. Here, we are going to focus on this indeed. Tumbled Pavers are quite popular when it comes to outdoor renovation projects. These days’ people have started to focus on the beauty of the outdoor areas too.

An Ideal Thickness

Here, it needs to mention that these stones are approximately 1.25 inches thick. This thickness is considered ideal to go with and get the best results too. They are slightly porous and make it possible to absorb water quickly. It means you would not have to worry about making it dry. The best thing is that it also makes it an ideal option in the context of walkways, poolside patios, and other areas that see a large amount of food traffic. The beauty of these tiles will remain the way it is irrespective of the foot traffic. The best option is that these stones are less prone to be slippered in comparison to other options. It means the elders and kids will remain safe while walking on it.

To Create A Great Look Indeed

Going with tumbled pavers can truly create a great look. Moreover, the tumbled wall block for the seating wall is also considered the best indeed. Saying it would not be wrong that choosing to “Tumble” for your pavers plays a major role to make you have an incredible twist indeed. Whether it is about the Texture or Appeal Of Normal Brick Paver Installation, it is just amazing indeed. Tumbling Process is all about placing Pavers in a Large Rotating Machine. To put in simple words, Pavers are tumbled together and you would be having weak and sharp edges indeed. The smoothed surface will look amazing and will churn out an amazing look.

Withstand To Winter Season

Tumbled Pavers do stand-up well during the winter’s freeze-and-thaw cycle. Therefore, they are considered an ideal choice for those who are especially living in northern climates. It means it can be said that Tumbled can be used for many purposes such as Driveways, Patios, Pool Decks, and Walls, and so on indeed.

Why You Should Not Go With Not-Tumbled Pavers

Here, it needs to mention that Not-tumbled pavers come up with different sorts of advantages indeed. In this section, we are going to emphasize it in a detailed manner. Let us check it out more about it

Honed Surface

These stones hold a honed surface which is good at preventing the quick absorption of liquids indeed. It means it would not be that way much safe and ideal to go indeed. Here, it needs to mention that it is particularly used in the case of an oil spill. It means these paving stones are regarded as an ideal choice when it comes to driveway renovation projects. These pavers are also good at preventing incidences of staining which probably can be permanent. These pavers are indeed considered the best to prevent the absorption of liquid and oil indeed.

Lack Of Absorption

It needs to be noticed that the honed surface of these incredible stones helps them to turn into look attractive and beautiful. The lack of absorption is also quite slippery when they get wet. It means the chances of accidents could increase though. Therefore, they are considered a less preferable option for poolside paving stones or other areas which see high moisture including garden pathway.

Chiseled Edges

Another advantage of not-tumbled travertine pavers is their chiseled edges. Here, it needs to mention that these edges impart traction to car wheels to make sure that vehicles would not slip even if the surface is wet. The sort of travertine paver you would be using is supposed to be determined by the outdoor renovation you have been hunting to accomplish. In case you are not sure which option is probably the best regarding your needs, then the knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives would be there to guide you in a better way indeed.

In The Last

So, what are you waiting for? It is time to unlock the beauty of your park installing Tumbled Pavers. Hope the above-mentioned information has brought needed knowledge to you. Do not forget to consult with the experts in case you get confused or need some more information regarding this.

Tottenham Hotspur puts six past Manchester United at Old Trafford

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October 4, 2020

After Bruno Fernandes converted from the penalty spot early on, United went on to concede six goals — two inside the first seven minutes and four in the first half — and had Anthony Martial red carded after a scuffle with Erik Lamela.

The 6-1 result was Tottenham’s second Premier League victory of the season, while defeat leaves United 16th in the league with far more questions than answers at this early stage of the campaign.

In another remarkable scoreline on Sunday, Aston Villa defeated last season’s champion Liverpool 7-2 as Ollie Watkins scored a first-half hat-trick, Jack Grealish scored a brace and John McGinn and new loan signing Ross Barkley bagged one each.

Mo Salah scored two either side of halftime for the Reds, who conceded seven goals for the first time since April 1963, according to Opta; never before has a reigning Premier League champion conceded seven in a game.

Table Of Contents

1 ‘Nowhere near good enough’
2 ‘Very, very strong performance’

‘Nowhere near good enough’

It proved to be a day to dig into English football’s history books at both Old Trafford and Villa Park

Having gained an early advantage, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side conceded four first-half goals in a league game at home for the first time since 1957, Opta stated, when it was Spurs again who netted four.

Tanguy Ndombele, Son Heung-Min, Harry Kane and Serge Aurier were all on the scoresheet for the visiting side as Jose Mourinho got his first victory against his old club as Spurs manager.

It was the third time Manchester United had conceded six in a Premier League game.

“Of course it’s alarming, it’s nowhere near good enough,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.

“I hold my hand up, it’s my decision to pick the team I did and us as a squad, that’s not good enough for Man United.”

Harry Kane celebrates scoring Tottenham's third goal.

READ: Eric Dier sprints off for emergency toilet break in Spurs’ cup clash

A frantic start to the game saw three goals inside the first seven minutes. Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Davinson Sanchez brought down Martial in the Spurs box before Ndombele and Son quickly hit back.

Ndombele took advantage of poor United defending to score from close range and Son was on target after a quick free-kick from Kane again exposed the home side at the back.

Things went from bad to worse for United when Martial was sent off for a light slap on Lamela, who fell to the floor dramatically having pushed the Frenchman as the pair waited a cross. Anthony Taylor showed Martial a red card while Lamela went unpunished.

Anthony Taylor shows Manchester United's Anthony Martial a red card.

Solskjaer later said it was a “bad reaction” from his forward, but added that if one of his players had gone down in the manner Lamela did he would “hang him up to dry” for going down so softly. Mourinho said he was yet to watch the incident back.

READ: Manchester United scores 100th-minute penalty to secure dramatic win against Brighton

‘Very, very strong performance’

Moments after the red card, Kane got his first as Eric Bailly lost possession trying to play the ball out from the back, exchanging passes with Son — a familiar sight this season — before blasting a shot past David de Gea.

Son got his second and Tottenham’s fourth when he slotted through de Gea’s legs after Aurier had found himself in acres of space on the right wing, and the right back got one himself early in the second half when crisp passing broke down the United defense.

Kane heaped further humiliation on the home side from the penalty spot after Paul Pogba brought down Ben Davies with a badly timed challenge.

Solskjaer walks off the pitch following his side's defeat.

For United, the final whistle couldn’t come soon enough.

“We prepared ourselves very well,” Mourinho told Sky Sports of his team’s performance. “Tactically, I think also psychologically, the team was ready. So ready that a penalty on the first minute and (to) be losing immediately, 1-0 after one minute, didn’t affect the team at all.

“I can imagine that some people can say we’re playing against 10 men for a long time, which is obviously true, but for me it’s also true that 11 against 11 we were playing extremely well, we were creating huge problems, we were winning 2-1 and they couldn’t find solutions to control us.

“So I think it was really, really a very, very strong performance.”

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Opinion | Lincoln Has Another Lesson for Trump

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October 3, 2020

Opinion Lincoln Has Another Lesson for Trump

Perhaps they have mused on how fragile life is and our civilization is. How our planet burns. How there may be more to discover in just being still than in running. How less may be more. How much a loved one may be missed. How hollow the temples of consumption are; and how, one morning through the mist, the towers of Manhattan may look like the medieval towers of San Gimignano, relics from another era.

Trump, now at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, is alone battling the virus within him. Alone with his thoughts and a tenacious, unpredictable thing that he belittled.

It was an angry, barking, surly, rude, defiant Trump who showed up for the first debate with Joe Biden and made no secret of his contempt for American democracy. He said of the balloting that has already begun, “It’s a fraud, and it’s a shame.”

Perhaps his supporters saw in him a muscular American self-reliance. I saw a parody of that — a relentless aggression as veneer over desperation — and a clear and present danger to the Republic.

Before Trump tested positive for the virus, he boasted on Twitter, “I won the debate.” That’s loony. There was one clear loser: America. I was on a French radio show a couple of hours after the debate ended, and the segment opened with a 20-second clip of Trump, Biden and the moderator, Chris Wallace, all shouting at once.

That’s the world’s image of Trump’s America: chaos and gobbledygook.

What now, at less than five weeks from the election? We have our October surprise. Trump’s symptoms are relatively mild, the White House says, but of course they could worsen. Trump may have to quarantine for almost half the time that remains before Election Day. No more big rallies full of unmasked people. No more mocking of Biden for wearing a big mask. Trump’s braggadocio, part of his appeal to millions of Americans, is in tatters.

He is mortal, and truth, like science, is relentless. Perhaps there will be a sympathy vote for him. Perhaps he will recover quickly with a redoubled conviction that the virus is an exaggerated threat, or declaring that his enduring through the illness means that God wants him to be president. But what I feel is the curtain coming down and closing a chapter of American derangement.

The virus is Trump’s deus ex machina. Not his retribution but his salvation, because the road he has trodden can only lead to disaster. I wish him a good recovery, and Americans the desperately needed renaissance whose name is Joe Biden.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.

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Twitter removes Iran accounts disrupting US debate

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October 1, 2020

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Donald Trump and Joe Biden at Cleveland presidential debate seen through a mobile phone screen — Image caption

Twitter says it acted swiftly to limit sharing of disruptive material from accounts in Iran

Twitter says it has removed nearly 130 accounts linked to Iran that attempted to “disrupt the public conversation” during the US presidential debate.

It said it had become aware of the accounts, which “appeared to originate in Iran”, as a result of intelligence provided by the US authorities.

The social network has so far provided only four samples of the content posted by these accounts during the debate.

Two of the accounts had usernames openly supportive of President Trump.

The handle of one of them – @JackQanon – directly references the unfounded QAnon conspiracy theory Donald Trump is secretly battling a “deep state” network of Satan-worshipping elites.

The other account tweeted about the president telling the banned Proud Boys group to “stand back and stand by”, which its members have taken as a call to prepare for action.

The Proud Boys is an anti-immigrant, all-male group with a history of street violence against its opponents.

Another account questioned whether Fox News debate moderator Chris Wallace was impartial.

Twitter said it had acted early to remove the accounts and “they had very low engagement and did not make an impact on the public conversation”.

Image copyright
Reuters

Image caption

Twitter was made aware of the accounts “based on intel” provided by the FBI

Holly Dagres, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the accounts showed Tehran was “playing both sides of the political field” and was “likely part of a larger disinformation campaign to take advantage of the current political divide”.

In August, National Counterintelligence and Security Center director William Evanina warned China, Russia and Iran were trying to influence the presidential election.

Iran was trying to “undermine US democratic institutions” and “divide the country” by spreading disinformation and “anti-US content” online, he said.

And it efforts were partially driven by a belief a second term for the president “would result in a continuation of US pressure on Iran in an effort to foment regime change”.

Microsoft said last month that Iranian hackers had, between May and June, unsuccessfully tried to access the accounts of White House officials and President Trump’s campaign staff.

Twitter has said it will publish further details about the accounts and their content once it has completed its investigations.

Trump ads push baseless Biden earpiece conspiracy

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September 30, 2020

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By Marianna Spring
Specialist disinformation reporter, BBC News

At least 15 versions

The advertising campaign was launched after the debate, and also promotes two other baseless but widely shared rumours about Mr Biden. One suggested he asked for breaks during the debate, and another accused him of refusing a “drug test”.

The photo featured in the advert is not from Tuesday’s debate. It was first shared online in September 2019.

In a number of the adverts, it has been doctored to show Mr Biden wearing wireless Apple headphones. This was not the case in the original image. Some versions circle the ear featuring the headphone.

image copyrightFacebook

image captionAnother version of the advert featuring a different caption and edited image

By Wednesday evening, there were at least 15 different versions of the advert, and according to Facebook’s Ad Library, they had reached at least 10 million users.

Facebook has pledged to label posts containing voting misinformation and point users towards accurate information ahead of the election. However its policy does not involve fact-checking political speech, including in advertisements.

The company declined to comment about the latest Trump ad campaign.

Rumour origins

Hours before the debate, the claims went viral on Facebook and YouTube.

Identical memes were pushed by a number of popular Facebook pages with names such as US Conservative and Unhinged Left. They claimed “Joe Biden should be inspected for a hidden earpiece as well as submit to a drug test before the debate”.

These memes are subject to fact-checks – and some have had warning labels applied to them on Facebook.

image copyrightFacebook

The claims were

picked up by Fox News and other conservative news outlets.

They were further amplified by supporters of QAnon, an unfounded a conspiracy theory that claims President Trump is fighting a secret war against elite Satan-worshipping paedophiles.

Those who believe in QAnon are known for promoting political disinformation on social media which targets opponents of the president. They shared close-up pictures of Mr Biden’s ears, alleging a listening device was visible.

During the debate, some also shared photos of a fold in Mr Biden’s shirt, claiming it was caused by a wire, and of a supposed device on his wrist, where he wears a rosary in memory of his late son Beau.

Nothing new

Conspiracy theories about secret listening devices have been recycled in presidential election campaigns for the past two decades.

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton faced similar unfounded claims ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

In 2004, rumours circulated among left-wing sites and blogs that President George W Bush was being aided by a secret earpiece.

None of those allegations were found to be true.

Even if a candidate did wear an earpiece, any advantage would be questionable. As TV and radio presenters can attest, listening to someone while simultaneously talking during the back-and-forth of a live event is a difficult skill to master.

Record-breaking free diver explains the thrill of exploring ocean depths

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September 30, 2020

Not Arnaud Jerald, whose obsession with the deep blue and free diving began at a young age.

“I discovered free diving at seven with my dad in Marseilles, France,” Jerald tells CNN Sport. “At 16, I had a lot of difficulty in school. I’m dyslexic. And this part of my life is so difficult because in the past, I’m really shy with the people.

“When I tried diving for the first time, I went into the depths and I opened my eyes and I just saw the blue.

“In this part of my dive, I saw a mirror and I felt what I had to do for the rest of my life.”

Free diving helped Jerald develop confidence as he dealt with his dyslexia.

“The sea helped me very much because to go in these depths, you need to be confident in yourself,” he says. “You need to be really comfortable with what you do in the bottom because you cannot stop at the bottom.”

‘You feel narcosis at the bottom’

Now aged 24, Jerald holds the free-diving world record after plunging to a depth of 367.5 feet over three minutes and 23 seconds, breaking his own previous mark of 354 ft.

“When you reach one world record, it’s like a dream,” he says. “When you reach two world records, it’s like the start of a career. You create a stability. It’s not a one-time world record because it’s a good moment.

“No, when you reach two world records, it’s not an achievement but something like that.”

When he free dives Jerald says he’s more focused on the sensation the extreme sport gives him than on the world records he’s attempting to break.

“All around you is blue,” he says. “You don’t see the difference between the surface and the bottom. This is the first place in the world where you feel that.

“You can face a lot of experiences on earth but this one is just unique.

“You feel narcosis at the bottom. Sometimes it’s like a dream and sometimes it’s like a nightmare.”

Arnaud Jerald holds the world record depth reached by a free diver, plunging to a depth of 367.5 feet.

Watch Jerald diving at the top of the page.

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‘Wouldn’t give to a dog to chew’: Tennis players complain about new balls at French Open

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September 30, 2020

“The ball is completely different,” defending men’s champion Rafael Nadal told reporters last week. “The ball is super slow and heavy. (There are) very cold, slow conditions.

“I think (it’s) not a good ball to play on clay, honestly. That is my personal opinion. It’s not the right ball to play on clay courts.”

Cooler temperatures mean Nadal’s heavily spun forehand won’t have as great of an effect on the clay of Roland-Garros.

READ: Nadal targets 13th French Open title

Briton Dan Evans, who lost to Kei Nishikori in five sets in the first round on Sunday, was in agreement with the 12-time French Open champion, saying some of the balls you “wouldn’t give to a dog to chew.”

“I think the balls are the biggest thing,” he said of the challenging conditions, while also acknowledging the cold.

“Maybe they got it a little wrong with the balls. It’s tough to get that ball to go anywhere. It’s in what month, September, October? That ball is a bit too heavy, I think.”

US Open champion Dominic Thiem also lamented the change, saying the Babolat previously used at Roland-Garros was “perfect” for topspin and his “favorite ball.”

But not all players are against the switch, with world No. 5 Daniil Medvedev saying the new balls suit his game.

READ: Teenager Jannik Sinner shocks 11th seed David Goffin

Evans plays a backhand during his defeat by Kei Nishikori at the French Open.

This year’s French Open has been moved from its usual May start date amid the coronavirus pandemic, meaning temperatures are cooler than normal.

Players were wrapped up in multiple layers as the tournament got underway on Sunday.

Former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka was among those to suffer in the conditions, complaining to a match supervisor that she was “frozen” during a lull in her first round match.

It was announced in November 2019 that the French Tennis Federation had signed a five-year partnership with Wilson, which made the company the official ball of the French Open.

The announcement said the ball had been “designed specifically for the famous clay courts of Roland-Garros” and Hans-Martin Reh, general manager at Wilson Racquet Sports, said the company is committed to “creating the best clay-court experience for players.”

According to The New York Times, French Open tournament director Guy Forget said the Wilson ball had passed performance tests before being introduced and that no ball could function effectively given the current weather conditions in Paris.

Wilson did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

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USA the founding country

Tip 1: the right idea

Problem – solution

Developing ideas

Tip 2: financing

Crowdfunding

Business angel

Ventures capitalists

Corporate loan

Tip 3: Find the right type of company

‘Nowhere near good enough’

‘Very, very strong performance’

At least 15 versions

Rumour origins

Nothing new

Related Topics

‘You feel narcosis at the bottom’