Sunday News Post: 13/12/2015

Saudi Arabia elects up to 17 female councillors in historic election

Saudi Arabia has elected its first female local councillors in a historic step for a country where women are banned from driving and face routine discrimination.

Results from Saturday’s municipal council elections indicated there were about 17 female winners. These included four in Jeddah, one near Mecca – home to Islam’s holiest site – and others in Tabuk, Ahsaa and Qatif. Several more, reported by al-Sabq online newspaper, were expected to be confirmed later.

Opinions: 

Unfortunately just because these woman have been voted to Council it doesn't mean they can do much for change, they'll still have to get a ride to work and have a male companion with them. It's better than nothing and hopefully can promote further change. However at the moment it just seems like a way to appease woman's rights groups with a measure that is in the long run, rather inconsequential.

Sunday News Article: 29/11/2015

Putin orders sanctions against Turkey after downing of jet

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday called for sanctions against Turkey, following the downing this week by Turkey of a Russian warplane.

The decree published on the Kremlin's website Saturday came hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had voiced regret over the incident, saying his country was “truly saddened” by the event and wished it hadn’t occurred.

The decree includes a ban on some goods and forbids extensions of labor contracts for Turks working in Russia as of Jan. 1.. It doesn’t specify what goods are to be banned or give other details, but it also calls for ending chartered flights from Russia to Turkey and for Russian tourism companies to stop selling vacation packages that would include a stay in Turkey.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev earlier in the week had ordered his cabinet to develop a list of goods to be sanctioned.

Putin’s decree also calls for ending visa-free travel between Russia and Turkey and orders the tightening of control over Turkish air carriers in Russia “for security reasons.” A Kremlin statement said the decree was issued “to protect Russian citizens from crimes.”

Opinion:

This is a fitting punishment and a smart one, hopefully this will not escalate and turn into conflict. It is clear however that Turkey's president Tayyip Erdogan has attempted to deflate the issue after his remarks that 'He ordered the downing of the jet Himself'.

Pride: Analysis

Pride is a 2014 Dramatic Comedy film directed by Matthew Warchus. It has biographical elements being based on the miners’ strike of 1984-85 and more specifically the LGSM’s support of that movement. The film is similar to other British films such as Billy Elliot (2000) and The Fully Monty (1997) and uses light humour to undercut the bleak and dark subject matter. It is seemingly an inherently British film device and is used to great effect to make the audience connect with the characters and empathise with their struggle yet not come away from the film feeling worse for it.

We watch the events unfold through the eyes of a young 20 year old boy who has not yet come out to his parents, the primary story arc however does not follow him closely and rather he is a device used to peer into the lives of Mark Ashton and the LGSM group. This allowed the director more creative freedom as he is dealing with real events and allowing us to view those events through the eyes of a fictional character lets him tackle numerous issues – although the LGSM group are gay, the focus is not on gay rights; using Joe’s character however allows us a story arc as to what it was to be a gay youth growing up in the 80s whilst still not being the main subject of the film.

The film often relies too heavily on the use of clichés as a narrative device, a lot of the plot points are rather predictable and I feel this would be a detriment to the overall narrative in a different film. The films story is not its strong point, it features limited exposition and we are rather thrust into the events without a proper introduction however where the film shines is its performance and strong characterisation, there are a number of notable performances and none that detract from the overall feature. They help relay their message of peace and solidarity through the nuances of their characters that aren’t as explicit in the overall narrative. There are several sub plots, that although are nonconsequential in the long run help to enrich the narrative. The film manages to cover more than one issue this way, whether it be the fear and misinformation of AIDs in the 1980s or the Miner’s issues themselves Warchus provides a good insight into these issues, even if the moment to moment detail is lacking.  

Sunday News Article: 22/11/15

China declares war on ISIS after terrorists claim to have executed Chinese hostage

China will join the war on ISIS after four of its citizens were killed by Islamist terror groups in two separate attacks this week.

The vow comes after ISIS claimed to have killed Beijing man Fan Jinghui, 50, alongside Norwegian national Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad, 48, who were feared to have been taken hostage in September.

Chinese President Xi Jinping: "China will strengthen cooperation with the international community, resolutely crack down on violent terrorist operations that devastate innocent lives and safeguard world peace and security."

He also called on the relevant departments to boost security work "outside China's borders".

Opinion

It's seems a cruel twist of fate that it takes a devastating terrorist attack to unite countries that are so often rivals of one another. Although this is only a call for military action perhaps this expression of solidarity can lead to further developments and a new air of collaboration between the often feuding world powers. 

Sunday News Article: 08/11/2015

First women to stand for election in Saudi Arabia

Their election leaflets cannot contain photographs, and they are not allowed to address men directly at campaign meetings.

But in a breakthrough moment for Saudi Arabia, a country known neither for voting nor for female emancipation, the names of the first women to nominate themselves as election candidates have been published.

The elections for local councils next month are the third in the nation's modern history, but the first in which women will be allowed both to vote and to stand, under a decree by the late King Abdullah.

Their duties should they win will be the mundane tasks of councillors everywhere, such as supervising road maintenance. But the opportunity has been seized by some of the country's most prominent women's rights activists, as well by others who see themselves as apolitical but who want to improve their local communities. More than 1,000 women have submitted their names across the country, far more than many expected.

Opinions:

It is good to see so many woman taking advantage of their new suffrage- and even greater to see that so many have put themselves forward as candidates. Though it is only for local council positions these are important steps for a non-democratic country and perhaps can usher forward even more contemporary thinking within the country. 

Sunday News Post: 01/11/15

Airport Security in the Philippines Have Been Putting Bullets in Luggage to Extort Passengers

"This is becoming an international embarrassment"

The job of airport security is to confiscate dangerous items from suitcases, but travellers have recently found the opposite is true in the Philippines’ Manila Airport, where staff have allegedly been dropping bullets into the bags of unsuspecting passengers.

Legislators have called for an investigation into the supposed racket that extorts money from passengers by threatening to charge or arrest them for carrying illegal ammunition, the BBC reported.

“This is becoming an international embarrassment,” said Sherwin Gatchalian, a member of the tourism committee in the House of Representatives, according to the BBC. He warned that the offenders were “not afraid to prey on foreigners.”

A Filipino worker and Japanese tourist were the latest passengers to be detained in the swindle at the Southeast Asian nation’s main gateway. Other targets have reportedly been taken to court for refusing to pay fines.

Surveillance has heightened as investigators look into the incidents. After all, “there is no working system that is guarding the guards,” the BBC reported Senator Ralph Recto as saying.

Opinion

It's a shame that people who you trust to handle your possessions would take advantage of that, it's also a few bad people who are impacting possibly the entire country as a result as Tourism is likely to suffer as a result. One positive thing to take from this is that Boxer Manny Pacquiao is offer free lawyers to those who are affected by the scam.

History and Representation of Race within popular music (New Question. Proof of concept)

History and Representation of Race within popular music

Music is found in every culture around the world and can be traced back to early civilisations, music is fundamentally a constituent of Humanity as it has grown like humans, from primitive beginnings as far back as 55,000 years ago to the technologically driven median it has evolved into today. From this diverse background it is plain to see that Music as an art form is not bound by racial boundaries as it is inherent within every man and woman.

1950s

The 1950s was a period of great racial tension within the U.S. and this was ever present in the popular music of the time as famous black artists were more frequently shown than earlier periods yet still faced the same segregation as non-musicians. Despite black musicians making a lot of money for the their record label they were still payed fair less than their white counterparts and were treated to large amounts of discrimination.

Sunday News Post: 18/10/15

North Korea reportedly willing to sign peace treaty with US to end conflict

North Korea reportedly rejected the idea of resuming talks to abandon its nuclear program on Saturday, but said it would welcome negotiations for a peace treaty with Washington.

North Korea’s foreign ministry made the statement one day after President Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye said they were ready to open talks with Pyongyang on sanctions if they were serious about dissolving its nuclear program, according to Reuters.

“If the United States insists on taking a different path, the Korean peninsula will only see our unlimited nuclear deterrent being strengthened further,” the North said in a statement.

North and South Korea are still technically at war after signing a truce in 1953 to temporarily end their conflict. The U.S. also signed the deal after backing the South.

My Thoughts:

This seems like a move to save face as North Korea looks toward the winter and their starving Citizens. It would allow them to appear as if they are focusing efforts on gathering food for the winter, without appearing weak and needing to do it out of necessity. It also allows them to perhaps block the spying eye of the Americans and South Koreans, making them go to further; and less obvious lengths to spy on the country. I don't think it's a sudden change of direction but rather a tactical move.

Sunday News Post: 11/10/2015

London Film Festival: Feminist protesters storm Suffragette premiere

Feminist protesters stormed the premiere of new British movie Suffragette at the London Film Festival, calling for greater support for victims of domestic violence. Members of campaign group Sisters Uncut set off smoke bombs and flares as they broke through the barriers and rushed the film's premiere in Leicester Square. Chanting "dead women can't vote", they proceeded to take part in a "die-in" protest, in which they simulated being dead by lying down alongside one another on the red carpet.

Suffragette is the first big screen adaptation of the fight by British women for the right to vote in the early 20th century. The disruption caused by the protests caused the screening to be delayed, but eventually the film's stars including Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep and Helena Bonham Carter arrived on the red carpet.

Sunday News Post: 04/10/15

Sex ed to become mandatory in grades 7-12 in California

Sexual health education will become mandatory on Jan. 1, 2016 for California public school students in grades 7 through 12 under a bill signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday.

The comprehensive sexual health education law will combine education on HIV prevention, which already is mandatory, with sexual health education, which has been optional, into a single, mandatory course of instruction with updated curriculum, according to Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, author of Assembly Bill 329. Parents will have the option of excusing their child from instruction.

The new law seeks to remedy the uneven instruction in sexual health in public schools in the state, as documented in a study by researchers at UC San Francisco and in a lawsuit against the Clovis Unified School District brought by two parents and several advocacy groups that alleged inaccurate and biased information about sexual health was being taught. The parents alleged that a textbook on HIV prevention did not mention condoms and a video on sexual health featured a man on his wedding night comparing a woman to a dirty shoe because she was not a virgin.

My Thoughts:

I think this is a good step forward, the majority of the USA are Christians with fundamentalist values, Children from these families would previously have often got improper advice on sexual health and could lead to a multitude of issues as the idea of "Just don't" clearly doesn't work. People should not be made to feel ashamed and education is the best tool to prevent this.

Sunday News Post: 27/09/2015

Saudi Arabia plans to crucify protester as it ascends to UN Human Rights Council chair



                             

In a move that has drawn severe criticism from numerous organizations and activist groups from around the world, Saudi Arabia, which was tapped last week to head the Human Rights Council at the UN, is preparing to crucify and behead a protester who was still a minor at the time of his arrest, the BBC reported Wednesday.

Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr, a member of Saudi Arabia's Shi'ite minority, was convicted on a variety of charges including taking part in anti-government protests, breaking alliance with the king, sedition, rioting and attacking security patrols in 2011. Nimr was 17 years old when Saudi authorities arrested him.

As a signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Saudi Arabia is forbidden from enacting capital punishment against people under the age of 18. UN human rights experts also added that al-Nimr was subjected to torture and did not receive a fair trial.

"Any judgment imposing the death penalty upon persons who were children at the time of the offense, and their execution, are incompatible with Saudi Arabia's international obligations," the UN group said in a statement Tuesday.

Despite Saudi Arabia possessing  "arguably the worst record in the world" in terms of women's rights and dissidents, on September 17 the kingdom was chosen to lead a powerful five-member group of ambassadors, according to CNN. 

Sunday News Post: 21/09/2015

Fury after Saudi Arabia 'chosen to head key UN human rights panel'

The United Nations has been criticised for handing Saudi Arabia a key human rights role - despite the country having “arguably the worst record in the world” on freedoms for women, minorities and dissidents.

Critics, including the wife of imprisoned pro-democracy blogger Raif Badawi – sentenced to 1,000 lashes for blogging about free speech – labelled the appointment “scandalous”, saying it meant “oil trumps human rights”.

Mr Badawi’s wife, Ensaf Haidar, who is leading an international campaign to free her husband, said on Facebook that handing the role to Faisal bin Hassan Trad, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador at the UN in Geneva, was effectively “a green light to start flogging [him] again”.

UN Watch, an independent campaigning NGO, revealed Mr Trad, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador at the UN in Geneva, was elected as chair of a panel of independent experts on the UN Human Rights Council.

Opinions:

I think that choosing a country with such a questionable Human rights record to head a "Human Rights panel" is clearly a poorly thought thing to do, this leads me to believe that there is something more at play here. My first cynical reaction would be bribery, but on the other hand it could be that the country is looking to improve there image by leading this panel in a competent and fair way. I personally would vie for the first option, though perhaps straight Bribery; but rather a "You help me here, Ill help you later" sort of deal. 

Fox News Analysis

Fox News is an American news corporation, it has a right wing viewpoint as is infamous for it's fear mongering and often heavily exaggerated headlines, or in some cases; flat out false information. Around the time of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in France they aired a story based on Muslim extremism in Europe, they clearly saw this as an opportunity to drum up anti-Muslim sentiment as it is a widely reported topic and a cause of much controversy within the US. They brought In a "Terror Expert" who claimed that Birmingham had areas of "No go" if you were not a Muslim and that Muslims out numbered Christians within the city. These type of slanderous stories drum up so much interest due to their shocking and though provoking nature, the issue with this is that the average Fox viewer is not likely to look up opposing viewpoints and make an informed decision on the subject but rather believe what they had seen just because it had been on the television.

Their slogan of "Fair and Balanced" reporting holds true. As long as it comes from an agreeable viewpoint that reflects their right wing ideals. The largest problem with this organisation is they're no longer reporting the news in the traditional sense, their opinions are not unbiased and their topics do not span a broad range of subjects. They would never run a piece on Pollution or Gay rights as that would not get them the ratings or appeal to their target audience. Their programming acts more like a reality television show rather than a News channel, in fact a lot of their headlines are hardly distinguishable from satirical news sites.

Monday News Post: 14/09/2015

Two British ISIS jihadis killed by RAF drone 'gave themselves away when they phoned friends at home in the UK' 

The two British ISIS jihadists killed in Syria when they were blitzed by a drone controlled by RAF pilots 3,000 miles away gave away their location when they phoned friends in the UK.

Reyaad Khan, 21, and Rahul Amin, 26, were killed when one of them made a phone call allowing security staff at GCHQ in Cheltenham to intercept the conversation and pinpoint their location in the Syrian desert.

British intelligence agents on the ground then confirmed which car the pair were travelling in and relayed the information back to controllers 3,000 miles away at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

My Thoughts:

Although it is a tragedy that these men were even drawn to ISIS' regime, this acts as a deterrent to future British men who are seduced by their regime. You can't rape and pillage all day and call Mum for a chat in the evening, and hopefully this shows how alone these Men are as they lose all semblance of their former lives. I'm in two minds about this being reported however, it acts as anti propaganda and deters British men for joining the regime but it also gives away a technological advantage now that ISIS knows about this. Part of me thinks this shouldn't have been reported so it can be used more effectively in the future.

Black Mirror & Misfits Comparative

Both of these television shows are developed for Channel 4, they both are Sci-Fi thrillers. They show are both gritty, showing a dystopian look at much used Sci-Fi tropes. All though Black Mirror is about technology and Misfits is about super powers they are both presented in a similar fashion, having a grim outlook on life in a world where our lives are ruled by either technology or the supernatural.  In Black mirror each story is self-contained but have one similar theme in the narrative is how the advent of advanced technology can be a danger to us instead of the usually accepted idea that it would do nothing but improve our quality of life.

 In Misfits it has a similar portrayal of something that is usually has a favourable depiction in modern media, in a time where Marvel and DC blockbusters show how superpowers are fantastic and helpful to mankind, Misfits shows a group of young offenders with these powers and how they are not only a detriment to themselves but also to those they interact with, they’re not out fighting crime. If anything they are doing crime, even if non-intentionally.

The way the story is presented is another similarity between them, unlike a modern blockbuster in both the Sci-Fi and superhero Genre; these two films are very much grounded in reality, and show the human aspect of what these abilities might do to the people who have them, it is a bleak look into what these things might bring; it’s a far cry to the overly popularised blockbuster interpretations of them.

They both share a similar target audience in young adults, the subject matter is usually quite adult and can deal with a range of issues. At its root however they both primarily explore the effect that these things have on people in a gritty and realistic way.

In conclusion both shows share similarities In the way they present themselves, they both take heavily used Sci-Fi trope and present them in a grounded and realistic fashion   

Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 is a British radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in modern and current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7pm, including electronic dance, Hip-Hop, rock, indie or interviews. It is aimed primarily at the 15–29 age group, however the average age of the UK audience in 2008 was 33

First Aired: 30^th September 1967

Audience Share: 6.7%

Amount of Listeners Per Week: 10.4m

Heart

Heart is a radio network of 21 adult contemporary local radio stations operated by Global Radio in the United Kingdom, broadcasting a mix of local and networked programming. Eighteen of the Heart stations are owned by Global, while the other three are operated under franchise agreements.

First Aired: 6^th September 1994

Audience Share: 6.4%

Amount of Listeners Per Week: 9.0m

Capital FM

Capital is a radio network of eleven independent contemporary hit radio stations in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Global Radio. Capital was previously known as Mix, One, Galaxy and Hit Music at various times. The stations were formerly owned by GCap Media and Chrysalis Radio prior to their respective takeovers by Global Radio and, with the exception of Capital London, were all part of Galaxy or Hit Music until they were merged to form the Capital network on Monday 3 January 2011.

First Aired: June 6^th 1973

Audience Share: 4.0%

Amount of Listeners Per Week: 7.1 m

New Article Monday: 07/04/15

$828,000 raised for Indiana pizzeria that said it won't cater gay weddings

A Fundraiser for the owners of an Indiana pizzeria that became the target of widespread animosity after they said they wouldn't cater a same-sex wedding reception has collected more than $828,000 from anonymous donors.

A GoFundMe page started by a producer from The Blaze, a conservative news network founded by Glenn Beck, has drawn more than 28,500 donors.

Backlash against religious freedom laws helps gay rights in Indiana, Arkansas
Backlash against religious freedom laws helps gay rights in Indiana, Arkansas
"The intent was to help the family stave off the burdensome cost of having the media parked out front, activists tearing them down, and no customers coming in. Our goal was simply to help take one thing off this family's plate as the strangers sought to destroy them," wrote Lawrence Jones, a producer who works for Blaze personality Dana Loesch. "But other strangers came to the rescue and the total just keeps going up."

The Walkerton pizzeria was dragged to the center of a national debate over Indiana's Religous Freedom Restoration Act on Tuesday, when Crystal O'Connor told a local television reporter her family would refuse requests to cater a same-sex wedding reception because it conflicted with their faith.

News Article Monday: 30/03/15

World's oldest person dies at 117 in Japan

The world's oldest person, a Japanese woman, died Wednesday, a few weeks after celebrating her 117th birthday.

Misao Okawa died of heart failure and stopped breathing as her grandson and nursing home workers stood by her side, praising her for achieving a long, healthy life, said Tomohiro Okada, an official at her Osaka nursing home.

"She went so peacefully, as if she had just fallen asleep," Okada said. "We miss her a lot."

Okawa, born in Osaka on March 5, 1898, was recognized as the world's oldest person by Guinness World Records in 2013.

Album Cover Comparison: Kanye West

“The College Dropout” (2004)

This album is Kanye’s 2^nd studio album; it shows a more humble and not yet main stream Kanye, the bear in the centre of the cover seems dejected this costume can be identified with the album in many ways. The name “The College Dropout” refers to when he dropped out of the American Academy of Art in 1997 that he gained a scholarship to after high school. The bear that he is dressed out is the mascot of the school and it’s possible that his weary looking posture can be attributed to his possibly conflicted feelings about leaving the school, the gold framing can perhaps be used to represent how his time there was a cherished memory that he looks back on fondly but also perhaps with a little regret.

Overall the Album cover is a far cry from the image that the modern Kanye represents, the album as a whole has a whole different feel to what he is about now.

   “Watch The Throne” (2011)

   

This is Kanye’s 7^th Studio album and is vastly different from what he represented in 2004, at this point Kanye is an internationally recognised artist, both for his music and his antics off the stage. And this album cover represents this well. It is somewhat simplistic. The deeper meaning of it is harder to decipher. Compared to the more nuanced album in 2004 this album has a much more pop vibe and is less a focus on the lyrics but more on the beats. The gold shows what his life is like now, glitz and glamour.

This album shows the change in Kanye, from a gifted lyricist to someone who is known more for his large ego and off stage antics. The album cover is simplistic but shows what he is trying to represent which is his wealth and power.  

News Article Monday: 23/03/2015

Costa Rica goes 75 days powering itself using only renewable energy

Costa Rica has achieved a clean energy milestone by using 100 per cent renewable energy for a record 75 days in a row.

The feat was achieved thanks to heavy rainfall, which powered four hydroelectric plants in the first three months of the year, the state-run Costa Rican Electricity Institute said.

No fossil fuels have been burnt to generate electricity since December 2014, in the state which is renowned for its clean energy policies.

While Costa Rica is a small country, with a popular of about 4.8 million people, it has made great strides in its use of renewable energy.

Video Game Industry

When was it started?

The history of video games goes as far back as the early 1950s, when academics began designing simple games, simulations, and artificial intelligence programs as part of their computer science research. Video gaming would not reach mainstream popularity until the 1970s and 1980s, when arcade video games, gaming consoles and home computer games were introduced to the general public. Since then, video gaming has become a popular form of entertainment and a part of modern culture in most parts of the world. As of 2015, there are eight generations of video game consoles.

Who? Where?

It is popularly believed to have been pioneered by Ralph Baer a German Born American who was an Engineer and inventor also. He is known as “The father of Video Games” Thanks to his many contributions to the industry throughout the latter half of the 20^th century. In the 1960s he came up with the idea of playing games through a television screen. Following many prototypes he eventually created the first home gaming system the “Magnavox Odyssey”.

How big is it?

From a 2008 article we can see According to the third annual Game Developer Census by Game Developer Research, which covers North American game companies, the games industry employed 44,806 people in 2009. This is an increase of 406 jobs over the 2008 estimate (44,400). Other key points include.

Key Milestones in the industry

- First computer games (1940–1970)

- Ralph Baer and the birth of home consoles (1966)

- Early arcade video games (1971–1977)

- Golden age of arcade video games (1978–1986)

- Early online gaming (1980s)

- Handheld LCD games (1979)

- Video game crash (1983)

- Transition to 3D (1992)

News article: Monday 16/03/15

Vladimir Putin missing: Russian President appears in public for first time in 10 days

Russian president Vladimir Putin had been missing for over a week, some speculate it is due to an illness and not wanting to appear weak on live television, or to avoid an incident similar to Bush and the Japanese prime minister. Others claim he is healing from more plastic surgery as previously there has been evidence that Putin has had work done during his time in office. 

Whatever the case may behe in public for the first time in 10 days to meet with the President of Kyrgyzstan.

A smiling Mr Putin did not address the issue while answering questions from reporters summoned for the occasion, saying only: "It would be boring without gossip."

News Article: Monday 08/03/15

Baby Found Alive, Mother Dead 13 Hours After Utah Car Crash

A baby was found alive but in critical condition inside a wrecked car in Utah Saturday, 13 hours after the car the child was in plunged into a river, police said. The child's mother was found dead in the car when an fisherman discovered the crashed vehicle at around 12:20 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

News Article: Monday 02/03/15

FCC approves net neutrality rules, reclassifies broadband as a utility

What is Net Neutrality and why is it important?

The basic principle of Net Neutrality is that access to all websites and web services should be equal and that anyone can start their own website/service and make it accessible to anyone with internet access, just like any other website/service.

Without Net Neutrality, your Internet Service Provider (e.g. BT) could arbitrarily block whatever websites it didn't want you to access (e.g. perhaps blocking you from accessing competitors' websites). It could also mean your service provider purposefully degrades access to certain websites or services and/or forces you to pay extra to access certain websites or services (imagine paying an extra £5 a month to your service provider just because you want to access Facebook).

In the UK, this is not as big of a problem because there is (for the most part) much more competition because the BT network is opened up through a wholesale program which allows third-party providers to access the network and provide their own differentiated/custom internet services (to some extent).

In the US, however, there isn't really competition like this. Many homes have only one broadband internet service provider to choose from (e.g. their local telephone company) and some people are lucky enough to have two providers (e.g. telephone and cable company) or in very rare cases three providers (e.g. telephone, cable and independent fiber company). Basically, there is hardly any competition which means that if one service provider starts violating the principles of Net Neutrality, many customers are completely powerless (since they have such a limited or perhaps no alternative selection for ISPs).

Award Ceremonies

Awards ceremonies are made to applaud the achievements of people in select categories, it is also good for the industry as awards may help boost actors careers or make money off product placements such as wearing a certain designer’s clothes or showing off a certain product.

The Oscars

 Are annual American awards ceremonies honouring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, nicknamed an Oscar. The awards were first presented in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel; they are overseen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The awards ceremony was first televised in 1953 and is now seen live in more than 200 countries. The Oscars is also the oldest entertainment awards ceremony. It is also widely considered to be the most prestigious Film awards ceremony in the world.

The Emmys

An Emmy Award recognizes excellence in the television industry. Because Emmy Awards are given in various sectors of the American television industry, they are presented in different annual ceremonies held throughout the year. The two events that receive the most media coverage are the Primetime Emmys and the Daytime Emmys, which recognize outstanding work in American primetime and daytime entertainment programming, respectively. Other notable Emmy Award ceremonies are those honouring national sports programming, national news and documentary shows, national business and financial reporting, and technological and engineering achievements in television. Regional Emmy Awards are also presented throughout the country at various times through the year, recognizing excellence in local and statewide television. In addition, International Emmys are awarded for excellence in TV programming produced and initially aired outside the United States.

The Grammys

A Grammy Award, is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. The annual presentation ceremony features performances by prominent artists, and the presentation of those awards that have a more popular interest.

The first Grammy Awards ceremony was held on May 4, 1959, to honor the musical accomplishments by performers for the year 1958. Following the 2011 ceremony, NARAS overhauled many Grammy Award categories for 2012. The 57th Grammy Awards was held on February 8, 2015, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

5 Games and Radio

Games

The Last of Us

Genre – Action Adventure

Location – USA

Developer – Naughty dog

Mount & Blade

Genre – Simulation Role Playing

Location – Fictional Continent of Caldaria

Developer – Taleworlds

Total War: Rome 2

Genre- Military Strategy

Location – Europe, North Africa and Arabia

Developer- Creative assembly

Max Payne 3

Genre- Action

Location – Brazil

Developer – Rockstar Studios

Grand Theft Auto Five

Genre – Sandbox Action

Location – Fictional state of San Andreas

Developer – Rockstar North

Radio