Games organisers moving into new city centre premises.

Black Country cinema aiming to bridge funding gap.

Hospital colleagues take to the saddle in memory of highly-regarded consultant.

A two week celebration of theatre will highlight the best of West Midlands’ creativity this March.

WMCA bosses appointed as champions to tackle violence against women on public transport.

Trinity Brew Co endorse the spirit of '82.

Learn how to deal with cardiac arrest and save a life.

West Midlands leads UK’s COVID recovery with record visitor numbers.

Digital platform leads to 18,000 sports qualifications during lockdown.

Careers fair aims to provide opportunities for young people.

Sutton Coldfield project will attract employment and training opportunities.

The Friends of Moseley Road Baths are dismayed to learn of Birmingham City Council’s decision not to submit a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for work to the Baths building, which would secure its long term future.

John West writes more on the failure of Birmingham’s burghers to capitalise on the potential of a Midlands film industry.

Festive fun in new shopping area.

Richard Lutz on a new book about the riots that rocked Birmingham 35 years ago.

BGSO inviting orchestral musicians of all backgrounds from across the Midlands and beyond to come and join in for a weekend of making new friends and music in great setting of mac birmingham.

A charity concert has raised £700 for the Edgbaston-based charity Ammalife.

Enjoy exclusive events, festivals and destinations ‘Only Here’ during summer and autumn.

More people than ever before choose West Midlands in 2023.

Ball helps community group.

The sound of Brooklyn, New York coming to Kings Heath

Shopping ethically in the city.

Autin Dance Theatre presents Light Up Fest.

Hire bikes now available throughout the city centre.

Amazon's delivery glasses, the people warned, could be shelved or delayed indefinitely if they do not work as envisioned, or for financial or other reasons. The sources said they may take years to perfect. "We are continuously innovating to create an even safer and better delivery experience for drivers," an Amazon spokesperson said, when asked about the driver eyeglasses. "We otherwise don't comment on our product roadmap."

Returnless refunds are a tool that more retailers are using to keep online shoppers happy and to reduce shipping fees, processing time and other ballooning costs from returned products. Companies such as Amazon, Walmart and Target have decided some items are not worth the cost or hassle of getting back. Think a $20 T-shirt that might cost $30 in shipping and handling to recover.

The Bhartia family and Goldman Sachs are joining forces for a significant deal. They are planning to acquire a large stake in HCCB, the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in India. Goldman Sachs will provide substantial financial backing for this venture. The deal involves a planned future listing of HCCB, allowing Goldman Sachs to exit strategically. This move mirrors PepsiCo's successful strategy with Varun Beverages.

According to early estimates from Counterpoint, shipments in the wearables industry fell 30% on-year in the July-September quarter with nearly every top brand including Boat and Noise seeing sharp declines in numbers. However, shipments of premium smartwatches and audio products nearly doubled, pushing up the average selling price.

Indian travelers are increasingly splurging on luxury goods while abroad, with spending in this category skyrocketing by 250% in recent years. Travel companies and luxury brands are responding by incorporating premium shopping experiences into their itineraries and offering exclusive perks to attract Indian shoppers.

Titan Company experienced a 15% profit decline in Q2. The company attributes this to losses from a customs duty drop on gold. Despite this, Titan saw strong sales growth in its jewellery and watches segments. The company remains optimistic about the future, particularly the upcoming festive season. Titan is also closely watching the lab-grown diamond market and formulating its strategy.

Mankind Pharma is spinning off its consumer brands business into a wholly-owned subsidiary, aiming to increase its revenue contribution. Similar moves by Sanofi, Cipla, and Zydus Lifesciences have yielded benefits. Mankind Pharma seeks to unlock investor value through focused marketing and potential stock market listings.

L'Oreal's third quarter sales rose by 3.4% but missed expectations due to low consumer confidence in China. North Asia sales declined 6.5%. Reduced demand for suncare and dermatological products also slowed growth. Chief Executive Nicolas Hieronimus highlighted the need to excite consumers with new innovations, especially targeting young GenZs.

Summer may be winding down a bit, but the summer movie season is still going! WEMU's David Fair meets up again with Marquee Arts executive director Russ Collins to chat about the latest films and special screenings coming to a theater near you! Plus, the Michigan Theater is hosting not one, but two huge high school reunions!

The Trump administration has rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer schools or leave the country if their colleges hold classes entirely online this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the decision as a court hearing was getting underway on a challenge to the rule by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Ella Jones will be sworn in as mayor of Ferguson, Mo., next week, becoming the first black mayor — and the first woman — to lead the city that gained national attention when police killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014. The protests that erupted in response helped establish the Black Lives Matter movement of today. Still, nearly six years after Brown's death, Jones says the protests against police brutality — this time in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis — feel the same. "I don't think they feel any different," Jones tells NPR's Mary Louise Kelly on All Things Considered . The officers who were involved in the shooting of Brown were not indicted . But his death drew the attention of the federal government and the city entered into a federal consent decree in 2016 that resulted in widespread policing and municipal court reforms. Jones thinks that despite the work Ferguson has done, her city — which has a population that is two-thirds black — still feels like the

A New York City police officer has been suspended after apparently using a chokehold during an arrest in Rockaway, Queens. NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea said the department is investigating the incident, which happened Sunday. Cellphone video shot by a bystander shows several police struggling to subdue a Black man, including one officer who had his arm around the man's neck. One bystander shouts, "Stop choking him!" Police body-cam footage, which Shea said was released in a spirit of transparency, shows a group of police watching three men on a boardwalk who are shouting invective and slurs at passersby and the police. After more than ten minutes, one of the men picks up a plastic bag and gets closer to the police, asking, "Are you scared?" The officers then tackle him, and one officer appears to use a chokehold. A voice is heard saying, "He's out," before the officers move off the man, who moments later walks away in handcuffs with police. The man, who has been identified by his

The last 35 seconds of Ahmaud Arbery’s life have been viewed, studied, dissected and discussed all over the world. That’s because of a video that went viral, showing his final moments before he was shot on a shady street in Satilla Shores, Georgia on February 23. And while his death has made international headlines, the people of his community remember Arbery for how he lived.

I don't want to get hosed buying a pretty label and sales pitch on the bottle. I don't mind buying more than one bottle to get a better price. I don't know what "should be" in good mayo but you do, that's why I came here for guidance. I know we all hate Amazon, plz go to the next question rather than telling me Bezos blows; I am aware.

PFAS contamination has already been a significant concern. Now, there may be reason to add to the worry. A study funded by the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center finds there is an array of PFAS chemical profiles in rainwater falling over Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan. WEMU's David Fair spoke with the center’s Erica Bloom about the findings and what it means to the environment and public health.

From June 22 to July 6, 2024, Amazing Facts Oceania led an evangelistic and health outreach trip to Kenya. Providing medical and dental care, sharing the gospel in prisons and schools, and preaching at 20 outdoor sites. 

God blessed mightily—4,454 precious souls responded to His call and were baptized. One of the evangelists described the crowds as “very hungry for the Word of God!”

The medical team treated 5,000 needy people across 12 medical and dental clinics. They also provided medications and health education. Additionally, the team distributed 1,600 Bibles in Swahili and English and 83,000 Amazing Facts Study Guides. 

Prisoners eagerly responded to the messages of hope shared by the evangelism team. Nearly 225 prisoners gave their hearts to Jesus and were baptized. They were also thrilled to receive their own copies of the Bible. 

Students at public and Christian schools also responded eagerly to the gospel presentations. In one public school, 500 students eagerly accepted Amazing Facts Study Guides. At another public school, the entire student body rose to their feet to give their lives to Christ.[PQ-HERE]

Led by Ettienne McClintock, partner relationship manager at Amazing Facts Oceania, the team included 17 pastors, lay evangelists, and medical workers from Australia and New Zealand, who responded to our Lord’s commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Prior to the team arriving in Kenya, Amazing Facts Oceania had sponsored local evangelists to conduct evangelistic programs at 33 additional sites, making a total of 53 sites. The local churches are now discipling the precious new additions to God’s family at each location.

Divine Protection 

Satan did not want these meetings to take place. Severe monsoonal flooding caused damage across Kenya in the month preceding the evangelistic programs. Then, just as the evangelistic meetings were to begin, violent political protests broke out across Kenya against the government’s new tax laws. Dozens of people around the governor’s office in Nairobi were killed and hundreds more injured in the protests, making headlines around the world. Foreigners were particularly under threat. 

After much prayer, the team decided to proceed with the meetings despite the dangers. God answered dramatically. Above-average rainfall had been predicted for Kenya, but it did not rain for two full weeks while the team ran mass-scale outdoor evangelism—until the last person had been baptized. Then it poured!

God’s protection was also evident as thousands gathered to hear the gospel preached in the open air. One evening, while Ettienne was preaching, he heard the shouts and gunshots of an approaching riot. People were clearly nervous, but no one left when Ettienne asked the congregation if they wanted to go home. A noticeable peace settled over the huge crowd as Ettienne prayed for divine protection. The gunshots soon faded away. Many people made decisions for Christ that night.

Lives Renewed

God has promised in His word that “no weapon that is formed against you will prosper” (Isaiah 54:17), so in answer to earnest prayers, the work went on despite Satan’s best attempts to stop it. The mission produced a harvest of souls in Kenya that could only be possible through a God who works miracles in people’s hearts.

Alex had spent the last year sleeping on park benches while trying to get a job and an education. As the oldest son, Alex was expected to support his family, but his failure to even support himself had pushed him into alcoholism. At this low point, he heard music from one of the evangelistic meetings and came to listen. The message of hope from God’s Word drew him in, and Alex gave his life to Christ that evening. He is now preparing for baptism.

The Oceania team met Jabari the day he was released from prison. * He had been falsely accused and was on his way to murder his accuser and then commit suicide when he came across one of the evangelism sites. Jabari stopped to find out what was happening and met two team members. When they realized that two lives were in grave danger, they took Jabari aside and shared with him about God’s love and forgiveness. Jabari’s face began to soften, and he was visibly touched. He gave his life to God that evening and resolved to let God bring justice instead of trying to make it happen himself.

At one of the roadside medical clinics, a 22-year-old man named John arrived with a large stick in his hand. He was missing his two front teeth but had no apparent disability. “Why the stick?” the doctor asked. 

“I fell into bad company,” the young man responded in fluent English, “and was using drugs and alcohol. My family threw me out of home, so now I live by my stick. I catch rats with my stick, and I roast and eat them. My stick helps me dig out ground nuts to eat so that I can survive.”

John’s story deeply moved the doctor. He taught John how to live more healthfully (no rats!) and told him about Jesus—the Healer who welcomes him as a son, no matter what he has done in the past. John began to attend the meetings and was baptized at the end of the program.

A Renewed Commitment to Reach Australia

After two weeks of seeing God work miraculously in Kenya, the Amazing Facts Oceania team returned to Australia and New Zealand with a renewed commitment to sharing the gospel in their secular homelands. They are now launching a robust digital media and television campaign this month with a presentation called Kingdoms in Time, which focuses on the prophecies of the Bible that have all come true, with the final prophecies soon to unfold. 

Please pray that many will give their lives to Christ through this outreach in Australia and New Zealand. Please also pray for the thousands who accepted Christ in Kenya and for the many seeds of truth that were planted by the Oceania mission trip. 

To read more about the exciting outreach to Kenya and see many more pictures, click here.

*Jabari’s name has been changed to protect his identity.

Copyright 2020 KUNC. To see more, visit KUNC . MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: As cities across the country consider diverting police department dollars into social programs, some are looking at summer jobs for low-income youth. Through these summer youth employment programs, young people can make some money, learn new skills and stay productive. From member station KUNC in northern Colorado, Leigh Paterson reports. LEIGH PATERSON, BYLINE: Last month, New York slashed police spending but did fund its massive summer youth employment program. Cincinnati shifted a million dollars out of its police budget to expand youth employment. Los Angeles did something similar to its $1.8 billion police budget. Here's LA city council member Curren Price. CURREN PRICE: Well, my motion shifted $150 million from the police department budget. PATERSON: Ten million of that will go to the city's summer youth employment program. He said this reallocation is a direct response to recent protests against police violence.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: A bipartisan delegation of Congresspeople is just back from Ukraine. It was a trip designed to strengthen the U.S.-Ukraine alliance, and it was planned before news broke of the whistleblower complaint against President Trump involving that same country. Congressman John Garamendi led the delegation as a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. And the Democrat from California joins us now. Welcome, Congressman. JOHN GARAMENDI: Good to be with you. SHAPIRO: One central question in the impeachment inquiry is whether President Trump demanded help investigating a political rival in exchange for U.S. aid to Ukraine. And I know that aid was a central topic on your trip, so what did you learn about Ukraine's reliance on American assistance? GARAMENDI: Well, first of all, Ukraine is an extraordinary country. These citizens of that country are determined to be independent. They have been fighting a war against Russia for the last five years. They've lost 13- to 14

My spouse and I recently moved into a lovely big ole house in Amersfoort. We really enjoyed meeting those of you who came to the last meetup (June 2022), and would like to invite you to come join us for a hangout at our new place.

I'm thinking something like this: - A Saturday afternoon / evening in July or August - Food and drink - Patio games, video games setup for folks (we love a structured hangout or activities to have on-hand) thoughts?

After the coronavirus lockdowns forced it to shut down its 345 U.S. theaters, Texas-based Cinemark in April decided to do what a lot of companies have done: borrow money by selling bonds. The sale was made easier by the fact that the Federal Reserve was lending out trillions of dollars to businesses and governments, providing a much-needed boost to the corporate debt market in an effort to prop up the economy. Even as it was borrowing money, Cinemark also announced a number of steps "to endure a prolonged period of no revenue." They included laying off 17,500 workers with no guarantee when they'll be rehired. During the current crisis, the Fed, which began a two-day meeting on Tuesday, has pulled out all the stops to keep the economy afloat, lowering interest rates to zero and starting a series of unprecedented and historic new lending facilities practically overnight. "It has taken what were already extraordinary, exceptional, unusual, unconventional tools and has expanded them even

The year 2018 has been one of many great articles, interviews, and discussions here at Designing Sound and we want to thank all of our readers for their attention, suggestions, contributions, and overwhelming support throughout the year(s). There have been so many great films, shows, games, and events in 2018 that we thought we would share some of […]

http://www.musicxray.com/xrays/2672424 Twanesia Ruffin - GWP_Let's Be Friends

Jason Snell returns to the show to talk about the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, the new iPad-Pro-style iPad Air, the remarkable state of the Mac, and David Letterman’s battery-shopping trip to CVS.

Mike Monteiro returns to the show to talk about the Capitol insurrection and riot, Twitter and Facebook permanently banning Donald Trump, the shutdown of Parler, the fate of liberal democracy, and Mike’s new book, “The Collected Angers”.

Thousands of church members cooperated to pull off the massive PNG for Christ event in Papua New Guinea. The evangelistic efforts resulted in more than 300,000 baptisms. Is this a sign of the last days?