The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar has completed implementation of the main works of the 5/6 Park in Onaiza area. This is in conjunction with the Third Anniversary of Resilience in the face of the unjust blockade on the State of Qatar.

The 5/6 Park is designed to be a tourist and leisure spot for the people and visitors of Qatar and includes alarge plant maze. The design of the maze is inspired by the human imprint to signify the role of all citizens and residents in creating glory and prosperity, a tribute to every people who leave their imprints in the state. The maze area is built on around 6500 square meters with the outer plant fencing shaped similar to the map of Qatar to be centered in the heart of the park attracting the attention of every vistor, especially since the final shape of the map appears clearly when looking at it from the top of the adjacent hill, adorned with fancy lighting to illuminate at night.

Some artworks were displayed on 5/6 Arched on Lusail Expressway and the faade of the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) on occassion of the anniversary. These are the artworks selected from the open invite for the community in Qatar to take part with their artworks in memorizing the third anniversary of blockade, which was launched by Qatar Museums and The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar.

Also, the committee announced an artwork that will be showcased in 5/6 park under the title Al Somoud, designed by Mr. Faisal Al-Hajri, one of the prominent artists in Qatar.

Two more art works were added to the 6/5 park. They are drawn from the collection of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. Poem (1963-65), and Poem in Three Verses (1963-65) are by the Lebanese sculptor and painter Saloua Raouda Choucair.

Also Ashghal announced that a link will be published to announce displaying the works of the winning artists of the Under the Microscope with Ashghal initiative through a virtual exhibition that was launched during Eid Al Fitr.

Also, artists from Qatar Fine Arts Association, in coordination with The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar, participated in commemorating three years of steadfastness in the face of the unjust siege with some artworks reflecting the meaning of steadfastness and overcoming challenges of the unfair blockade through important achievements.

On this occasion, H.E Mr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality & Environment stated that the Ministry puts great importance on construction of parks, playgrounds and stadiums. HE Minister also commented that a land area of about 160,000 square meters has been allocated for implementing the 5/6 Park project in Onaiza Area. He also added that densely populated areas are chosen to construct parks to serve the largest population possible.

For her part, H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums said: "It is a pleasure for me to witness this distinguished achievement that represents the fruit of our joint cooperation with the Public Works Authority" Ashghal "on the third anniversary of the siege imposed on our beloved country. The resilience and stability of all our society, including citizens and residents in Qatar, is in their superior ability to achieve accomplishments over the years, and the scope of those achievements has expanded further after the imposed blockade. Every year we celebrate this moment that has united us together through artwork. This very special year has a special significance when we look at what is going on in the world around us. The recent Corona (Covid-19) pandemic calls on us all for a moment to reflect on ourselves and the way we coexist together. I am very proud of everyone living in Qatar, and these photos will be preserved in the archives of our National Museum forever. I thank all the participants, and invite those who still wish to participate to continue participating on our website.

H.E Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al-Muhannadi, President of Ashghal stated that the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar is working on constructing gardens, spreading green spaces and planting trees in various areas of the country in line with the states strategy to achieve environmental sustainability, one of the key the national development strategy as per Qatar National Vision 2030.

For his part, Eng. Muhammad Arqoub Al-Khaldi, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places said that the committee aims to create a sustainable environment through enlarging green spaces and creating pedestrian tracks and bicycle lines. He also added that the 5/6 Park project is implemented in coordination with many other entities.

Al-Khaldi added that the Committee has completed implementation of main works of the 5/6 Park project which constitute 80% of works, and remaining works are underway to complete the project scheduled to end by the end of year. He also pointed out that, based on the committees principle to support local products, materials manufactured in Qatar were relied on to implement the park, and thus 65% of materials used are local made.

On this occasion, Mr. Yusuf Al-Sada, President of the Qatar Fine Arts Association, expressed the associations delight for its members participation in commemorating the day of resilience with their artworks. He also expressed gratitude for the constant support from Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar.

Eng. Hessa Kahmis Al Kaaby, Project Design Manager of the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places, Ashghal, stated that 5/6 Park is designed to be a tourist and leisure spot for the people and visitors of Qatar. Eng. Hessa explained that features of the park include a large plant maze. The design of the maze is inspired by the human imprint to signify the role of all citizens and residents in creating glory and prosperity, a tribute to every people who leave their imprints in the state. It also commemorates the resilience and success in overcoming the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar. We shall witness together the growth of these plants shaped by the imprints sketching many roads and paths, so as the visitors will enjoy choosing different path each time taking them towards different views of the park. The maze area is built on around 6500 square meters. The outer plant fencing is shaped similar to the map of Qatar to be centered in the heart of the park attracting the attention of every vistor, especially since the final shape of the map appears clearly when looking at it from the top of the adjacent hill, adorned with fancy lighting to illuminate at night.

Eng. Hessa also added that the hill next to the maze is about 5 meters above ground level and located in the center of the park on an area of 3000 square meters. This hilltop area gives a comprehensive view of the park from above, making it a major attraction for fans and photographers. Visitors can also enjoy view of some attractive landmarks such as the 5/6 Arche, hills of Katara, Lusail Towers and the Pearl.

5/6 Park Implemented by the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar

The park contains open green areas of about 107,000 square meters. It also includes about 11,800 square meters of small shrubs and tree fences, in addition to planting about 1,500 trees.

The park includes many facilities attracting visitors and tourists, as it contains shaded areas for families to sit, play areas for children that contain games suitable for different ages, areas designated for celebrations and spaces to display various forms of artworks.The park also includes exercise areas, pedestrian paths of approximately 1.3 km, and jogging paths of a length of 1.3 km and a cycle path with a length of 880 meters, in addition to bicycle parking slots. Indoor footpath is constructed using earthy materials that give a natural desert shape of the local environment of Qatar.

The park also include many utilities and service stalls such as restaurants, cafes, toilets and prayer places, among others, in addition to providing garden furniture and lighting poles to enable visitors to visit at night.

Planting trees suitable for the Qatari Environment

The framework of the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places focus on implementing beautification and recreational projects that preserve the environment and contribute in improved healthy life for the people. Thus, trees for plantation are chosen in consideration of the nature of Qatari environment, taking into account of less water consumption and future maintenance works.

It may be noted that 10% the trees planted in the park are of Qatari origin such as Ziziphus Spina Christi, Acacia Arabica and Acacia Tortilis. Which is evergreen trees that reach a height of more than 10m. Grow excellent in Qatar and bear the environmental conditions of high temperature and drought.

Among the other tress chosen are the Cassia Nodosa, Delonix Regia, Tabebuia Argentea and Cassia Gluca They are beautiful and attractive shade trees with a height of 10 meters, they are distinguished for growing well and resisting drought. The planting of these trees will be distributed in the park within the area of landscape. Also among the shade trees included in 5/6 park are the Bucida Buceras, Millingtonia and ficus benghalensis which are among the evergreen trees ranging between 6 to 10 meters and are considered one of the greatest and wonderful shade trees in public parks.

The park also includes decorative trees planted alone or in groups, or as backgrounds behind young shrubs and flowers such as Cassia Javancia and Bauhinia Purpurea. In addition, Ficus religiosa is chosen and reaches up to 30 meters in height and suitable for the Qatari environment as they bear most types of soil and are used in the park individually.

Using Local Materials in the Project

It is worth noting that, as the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar endeavors to support local manufacturers, the committee has depended on locally produced materials in implementing this park up to the level of 65% of materials used. The local elements used included curbstone tiles, asphalt and lightings, in addition to planting materials of trees, grass, different plants and sweet soils, and homemade rubber floors known as SBR were used as a recycled rubber layer that was used to implement jogging tracks.

Progress of Works

The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatarhas completed implementation of main works of the project, which include pedestrian paths and cycle paths, jogging paths, planting trees, a major plaza and a maze, where the completion rate of the project reached 80%, and work is currently underway to complete the remaining works, the implementation is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, and includes lighting of the maze, but the final form will be completed after the growth of plant barriers, and the works also include the completion of the illuminated hill, in addition to completing the works related to service buildings and water drinking fountains as well as the children's area, sports tools and garden furniture.

The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar

The committee's projects aim to create a sustainable environment through implementation of several main tasks that include building central public parks, providing dedicated pedestrian paths and bicycle tracks, street furniture, cosmetic lightings, developing Doha Corniche and some beaches, developing the central Doha region by reviving some main roads and internal roads, vital locations, residential and open squares. The committee also aims to contribute to create a societal environment with a distinct identity through participation of community members in artistic and afforestation work in coordination with several ministries and government entities of the State.

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Over 6000 sqm plant maze in shape of Qatar to be ready by year-end - The Peninsula Qatar

Kiwis love Mid-century Modern architecture increasingly we appreciate this as part of our architectural heritage, and such properties have become highly sought-after.

We owe it all to a devoted group of architects who forged ahead with Modernist designs in the mid 1900s to leave us a legacy of properties that still resonate today.

But these architects haven't been assigned to history their work lives on to influence architects today, including the team at Herriot, Melhuish O'Neill Architects (HMOA) in Christchurch.

RUSSEL KLEYN

Clifton Hill house has retained its Mid-century character.

The firm lives and breathes Modernism, and the team even works out of one of Christchurch's notable Modernist buildings designed by Sir Miles Warren the shared office was once the renowned architect's own home and workplace.

READ MORE:* Wellington architecture awards shortlist not all about big and expensive* Architecture shortlist 2020 reinforces new identity for Canterbury* Sir Miles Warren Mid-century gem for sale in Merivale

Architect Duval O'Neill says the firm is "completely immersed in Modernism in the office". "It feels very natural to us, even though other people are constantly amazed by it (the office)."

Alden Williams/Homed

Architect Duval O'Neill outside the firm's shared office the building was designed by Sir Miles Warren in 1962 as his home and office.

Alden Williams/Homed

Architect Duval O'Neill says the whole team at Herriot Melhuish O'Neill lives and breathes Modernism, and probably takes its historic workplace a little for granted.

Duval O'Neill and his wife Bridget have a particularly close association with the past, having bought a house in Mt Pleasant in 2005 that was designed in the 1950s by celebrated Modernist architect Don Cowey.

"Don designed the house for his parents, but it was a while before we found this out," says O'Neill. "And when I did, I just looked up the phone book and rang him up. We had a great meeting. He was able to tell me all about the house and we developed a really nice friendship. He was a lovely, lovely man."

SUPPLIED

This is the original Don Cowey-designed house bought by Duval and Bridget O'Neill in 2005. It was subsequently damaged beyond repair in the February 2011 earthquake.

Cowey, who had built a new house for himself and his wife Jocelyn in Redcliffs, sadly, lost his life in the February 2011 earthquake, while he was out in the garden picking raspberries for Jocelyn, and a giant boulder fell into the garden from the cliffs above.

"We were deeply saddened by his death," O'Neill says.

The same earthquake damaged the O'Neills' own house, which was subsequently deemed uneconomic to repair. But its legacy was to live on. Cowey had already pointed the architect in the direction of the Macmillan Brown Library at the University of Canterbury, where he found the original plans for the house.

RUSSELL KLEYN

And this is the new house designed by Duval O'Neill that references the original Mid-century build by Don Cowey.

"Don had designed the house around 1953 when he was only 25," says O'Neill. "He and a friend also built it, as you did back then. Don was proud of his design and explained to us the way he wanted to unveil the views and the sun as you walked through the house. He positioned it to preserve those views.

"Once we had the decision to rebuild, the design strategy was largely an initiative in maintaining the essence of his original design, while taking the opportunity to adapt it to more modern living. We didn't want it large, and we didn't want to totally mimic his design.

"We like to think that he would have approved of our moves to bring it more in line with the way we live now."

RUSSELL KLEYN

Duval and Bridget O'Neill love the simplicity of the Modernist style and the built-in furniture, which features in their new home.

WHY MID-CENTURY RESONATES

O'Neill says there are several reasons why Mid-century architecture is still loved by New Zealanders.

"There's a heightened interest in design generally. And Mid-century design has struck a chord with Kiwis, partly due to the critical mass of that type of architecture people are noticing we still have a good quantity of these homes.

"We appreciate there is a real craft involved in the planning of these homes. There's a generosity of space and a (strong) relationship to the outdoors and capturing key views. More often than not, it's the simplicity that carries through to the built-in joinery that works so well.

COWDY REAL ESTATE

The JJ Allison townhouses in Merivale were designed by Sir Miles Warren in the mid 1970s. One of the townhouses has featured in COCA Mid-century Art and Design tours.

"These houses reflect a real consideration given to the way the spaces will work in the house. The houses are often quite frugal; they are not usually massive houses, but they have been carefully planned to be efficient."

HMOA has worked on numerous other projects, including the award-winning restoration of the Clifton Hill House designed by Austrian architect Ernst Killnan in 1965.

Originally a holiday home, the team transformed the tired holiday house into a permanent home, dealing with the challenge of the two major earthquakes along the way.

O'Neill also restored and enlarged the 1957 Pascoe House at Sumner.

RUSSELL KLEYN

This Sumner house designed by Paul Pascoe was renovated and enlarged by Duval O'Neill, but remains in keeping with the original architect's Modernist design.

New owners Dan and Emily Park had never heard of Paul Pascoe, the "father of Modernism", before they bought the house, which was in the same suburb as the renowned architect's own home, the Piano house a Christchurch landmark.

With three young children, the Parks were in desperate need of space, so they engaged ONeill to sensitively add onto to their home. Duval worked closely with builder Dave Owens and with landscape architect Craig Pocock on a design for the large garden.

The owners say they love the sense of space, the light, and the way you cant tell from the street that this house is really something special.

RUSSELL KLEYN

The Pascoe house in Sumner is perfectly adapted to modern living.

"The house is super-comfortable to live in wide eaves to keep out the hot overhead sun in summer, floor-to-ceiling windows on the garden side to let in the low winter sun, small windows on the southerly side, black cedar and Halswell paving to act as a heat store at night. Its fully central-heated coming from the UK, where central heating has been fairly standard for over a century, this made us feel at home.

"When we moved in, the house was filled with fantastic mid-century pieces. None of our old country-cottage furniture worked at all."

The couple didnt want the renovations overwhelming the original house, so theyre in keeping with the style. "Weve used the same cedar boards, copper nails, door handles, rimu flooring (sourced from an old hospital), window frames, eaves, interior and exterior colours, proportions and so on.

HOMED

Built in the mid-60s this home has been mostly untouched for more than 50 years.

"It takes a keen eye to spot the join between the old and new; many visitors cant tell its been extended. Weve maintained the sense of scale and the garden views from the kitchen."

And it's that last sentence that sums up the holistic design approach that characterises Modernism the house is at one, not only with itself, but with the immediate outdoors, the views beyond, and of course the path of sun throughout the day.

Read more:
Modernism revival in Christchurch, but it never went away - Stuff.co.nz

President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe pandemic is bad, we need the capability to measure just how bad Florida governor wants federal disaster area declaration Amash calls stimulus package 'a raw deal' for 'those who need the most help' MORE is getting a bump in the polls over his recent handling of the coronavirus pandemic but analysts warn that the uptick does not yet represent a meaningful shift in support behind the president.

Two new surveys released Friday found majority support for Trumps handling of the health crisis. One survey showed Trumps job approval rating moving past the 50 percent mark, a rarity since he took office.

Together, the polls indicate that voters have been encouraged by the presidents new tone and aggressive posture in dealing with the health and economic crises facing the country after a widely-panned Oval Office addressthis month.

Presidents tend to get a bump in wartime as Americans rally around the flag, so it would be no surprise that in a time of crisis the presidents approval rating took a turn in a more positive direction, said Tim Malloy, the polling director for Quinnipiac University.

However, experts also note that the data is limited. The U.S. is facing a potential long-term long health crisis and likely economic recession, which could completely alter the political landscape in the weeks and months before the November general election.

At the moment, only the Harris Poll shows Trumps overall job approval rating over the 50 percent mark.

That bump has not been reflected in polling averages, such as FiveThirtyEights job rating aggregator, where Trumps approval is at 43 percent. Several other surveys conducted over the past few days have put the president in the 46-47 percent range.

Looking at poll averages, there is no clear impact on Trumps overall approval rating and thats whats most politically relevant, said Mark Mellmann, a Democratic pollster. We arent seeing the kind of rally around the president effect, that we see in cases of international crisis. Thats measured by the overall approval rating.

Still, the new surveys are a positive sign for the president, whose response to the pandemic has been widely criticized in Washington, including by former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenIs coronavirus the final Trump crisis? The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Airbnb - Senators clinch deal on T stimulus package Biden hits Trump's remarks about reopening economy within weeks: 'He should stop talking' MORE, the likely Democratic presidential nominee.

A new ABC News-Ipsos survey found that 55 percent of Americans approve of the presidents management of the crisis, compared to 43 percent who disapprove. Thats a near mirror-image flip from the same poll last week, when 43 percent said they approved and 55 percent disapproved.

Voter attitudes broke largely along party lines, with 86 percent of Republicans approving and 30 percent of Democrats saying they approve. But Trumps numbers among Democrats have doubled over last week.

After initially downplaying the threat of the virus, the president has been holding daily press conferences from the White House briefing room that have been broadcast live by news outlets.

There, Trump has been surrounded by top administration officials and experts, including Vice President Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceWhite House press secretary to return to work after negative virus test Trump officials advise people leaving New York to self-quarantine for 14 days Intercept editor: Dems want Pence to take wheel on coronavirus response MORE, Dr. Anthony Fauci, thedirector of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, andDr. Deborah Birx, thecoronavirus task force coordinator.

That increase in transparency has coincided with big moves by the White House and Congress aimed both at curbing the spread of the virus and stabilizing the economy.

On Friday, Trump said hed lean onemergencywar powers to accelerate the production of medical supplies to fight the pandemic.

There have been new moves by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department to inject new liquidity and lines of credit into the private sector on a near daily basis.

Senate Majority LeaderMitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Airbnb - Senators clinch deal on T stimulus package White House, Senate reach deal on trillion stimulus package Overnight Health Care Presented by PCMA Trump hopes to reopen economy by Easter | GOP senators expect stimulus vote Wednesday | House Dems eye two more stimulus bills | Trump says he gets along 'very well' with Fauci MORE(R-Ky.) unveiled a new economic relief package on Thursday, the third of its kind, in an effort to keep the nation from spiraling into a deep recession.

Those efforts have earned Trump praise from surprising places, including from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who called the president fully engaged and thanked him forbeing very creative and very energetic in seeking solutions.

He set a new tone for his presidency the one people had been looking for and for the first time some Democrats are giving him approval which in the previous partisan atmosphere they were unwilling to do, said Mark PennMark PennTrump gets polling boost, but will it last? Worried about dying from COVID-19? You might be a millennial Poll: Coronavirus fears dampen sentiment about the economy MORE, the co-director of the Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll. Thats why his numbers are increasing.

The Harris Poll conducted a two-wave survey, one from March 14-15 and a second from March 17-18.

Those dual surveys found Trumps overall job approval rising from 49 percent to 53 percent. The presidents approval on his handling of COVID-19 bumped up from 51 percent to 56 percent in that time.

However, there are some glaring weaknesses for the president in the polling data.

For instance, 61 percent said the president can be trusted on the coronavirus. That figure is lower than it is for doctors and nurses (92 percent), medical journals (86 percent), local government (77 percent), local media (74 percent), friends and family (72 percent), or the national media (65 percent).

Fifty-eight percent said the government has not provided enough economic relief and 56 percent said the government has not been adequately prepared to deal with the spread of the virus.

And a survey by the American Research Group released Friday broke sharply with the other polls, finding Trumps job approval rating at only 35 percent. Forty-one percent said they approve of Trumps handling of the coronavirus outbreak, compared to 55 percent who said they disapprove.

Trump has been criticized for spending his briefings clashing with the press, including a heated exchange with an NBC reporter, or for making claims that are sometimes at odds with what his own health experts are saying.

There is evidence that people increasingly approve of Trumps handling of the crisis, but this is something of a comparative judgement, said Mellmann. When he was doing nothing and appearing to discount the whole pandemic, he was awful. Hes now better than that.

Excerpt from:
Trump gets polling boost, but will it last? | TheHill - The Hill

Editor's Note CNN Travel's series often carry sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However, CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy.

(CNN) Egypt is most known for its Great Pyramid of Giza or for luxury resorts on both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

Often overlooked is one of the country's most spectacular landscapes, White Desert National Park.

The sprawling protectorate in the Farafra depression in western Egypt is a treasure trove of wonderment.

People touring these strange lands have often felt like they're visiting another planet, despite only being a five-hour drive from Cairo.

Trips to Egypt's Western Desert have been rising in popularity among locals and tourists alike.

Activities range from dune bashing and sandboarding to mountain biking and kayaking in the nearby Bahariya Oasis.

The White Desert is an otherworldly landscape in Egypt.

Khaled Elfiqi/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

"Once they experience adventure travel there, they end up coming back again with their friends. So, they can experience it for themselves."

Black Desert

The journey to the White Desert usually starts with a stop at an utterly contrasting landscape -- the Black Desert.

This desert features a myriad of unique mountain ranges. Each one carries a coat of black stones thrown out of volcanoes millions of years ago, giving the sandy landscape its colored name.

After hiking up one of the peaks, it becomes clear that this area is devoid of any sign of life apart from a single road that stretches into the distance.

However, that isn't the road that leads to the White Desert.

Reaching the national park requires deflating the tires of a 4x4 Land Cruiser and dune bashing across the desert at dizzying angles.

Zigzagging and racing down rolling dunes is a heart-pounding experience that eventually gives way to the instantly breathtaking view of the White Desert.

The desert is home to unusual formations.

Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

Within seconds of arriving, questions surrounding its mysterious origins arise as its eerie beauty provides a staunch reminder that our planet is subject to powerful climate changes.

It's completely mind-blowing to believe that this was once a sea or an ocean and that the only evidence remaining is a collection of calcified limestone rocks sculpted over time by sand and wind.

These chalky abstract shapes seemingly change their color depending on the time of day, shifting from brilliant white to creamy, then reaching a golden brown.

When darkness falls

Nestled between the massive rock formations in the Valley of Agabat is a soft sandy hill that's perfect for sand boarding.

Harder to carve and slower than riding down a snowy mountain, sand boarding still delivers a thrill, but there are no ski lifts in the desert and climbing up a steep sandy hill is exhausting.

As the sun sets, the desert reminds everyone that this is a land of extremes and every hour since the sun's departure requires putting on a few additional layers of warmth.

After setting up camp, the local Bedouins prepare for visitors an authentic traditional dinner over an open fire.

The exotic aroma of the feast often draws attention from one of the rare residents of the White Desert -- the fennec fox, also known as the sand fox.

These adorably harmless animals are hard to spot, appearing as shadowy silhouettes in the distance. They often approach campsites as they're accustomed to counting on visitors' leftovers as part of their diet.

The desert is believed to have once been the site of an ocean or sea.

Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

Because of the depth of the landscape and zero light pollution in any direction, the stars shine and streak across the sky at night. This marvelous scene is arguably one of the best environments on the planet to observe the Milky Way in all its splendor.

When the moon emerges, its brilliant light reflects off the rocky surfaces giving a blueish glow that illuminates the national park and invites nocturnal wandering across its otherworldly terrain.

Nighttime explorers need to be wary and bring a flashlight as it's easy to get lost or trip up on the bumpy alien topography.

Exhilarating trail

After sunset, the landscape becomes an entirely different alien topography.

Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

In the morning, the rising sun wakes up even the heaviest sleeper. Before packing up camp, it's worth taking a hike to one of the park's treasured sculptures aptly known, because of its shape, as the Chicken and Mushroom.

After leaving the park, most adventurers travel just over an hour away to the Bahariya Oasis.

A popular attraction in the area is to climb atop the English mountain, so named because of the ruins of a British World War I outpost that crowns its highest peak.

Reaching the top provides a spectacular 360-degree view overlooking the entire oasis, including the lush forests of delicious dates and olive trees. It also presents a challenging ride for mountain biking enthusiasts.

Cycling down its winding paths littered with loose jagged rocks and sandy patches is not for the faint-hearted but provides those with experience an exhilarating trail.

The bottom of the mountain leads into the pristine and untouched Bahariya Salt Lake. Incredibly, there's no development around its shores, making the calm, therapeutic lake an excellent place for kayakers to catch a majestic sunset.

"My favorite part of the trip was kayaking with the golden rays bouncing off the water. It was a moment of pure wonder," Noreen Fadel, one of the adventurers on a recent Destination 31 trip, shared with CNN Travel.

All these sights and activities can fit into a two or three-day trip. The longer the stay, the more time to explore the surrounding area as there are numerous attractions in the region that deserve attention.

It may be years or decades from now before traveling to the surface of the moon is possible. Still, for those who can't wait till then, the White Desert National Park might the next best bet for lunar camping fantasies.

Visit link:
Egypt's White Desert: The alien landscape beyond the Pyramids - CNN

The Canadian Olympic Committee announced Sunday that it would not field athletes for the upcoming 2020 Olympic Games set to be held in Tokyo this summer, citing the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

In a joint statement obtained by the CBC, theCanadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee said that they had made the "difficult" decision to withdraw from the games to avoid exposing athletes or other officials to the coronavirus.

"This is not solely about athlete health it is about public health," the committees added. "With COVID-19 and the associated risks, it is not safe for our athletes, and the health and safety of their families and the broader Canadian community for athletes to continue training towards these Games."

BREAKING: The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee will refuse to send athletes to the Tokyo Olympics if the event is not postponed.The 2020 Games are currently set to begin on July 24. News release: pic.twitter.com/NT8twsqAXI

The statement goes on to explain that Canadian officials will reconsiderif the games are postponed beyond their currently scheduled opening date in late July.

The Australian Olympic Committee on Sunday told athletes to prepare for the games to be held in early 2021, while Australia's prime minister reportedly said in a statement that Australian Olympians would not be allowed to travel to Tokyo to compete in the games until the outbreak has ended, according to 7News Australia.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) says Australian athletes should prepare for a Tokyo Olympic Games in the northern summer of 2021, following the IOCs announcement of a potential postponement of this years Games and changes in public health landscape in Australia and across the globe, read the AOC's statement.

The AOC held an Executive Board meeting via teleconference this morning and unanimously agreed that an Australian Team could not be assembled in the changing circumstances at home and abroad," the committee added.

The International Olympic Committee has for weeks attempted to dismiss suggestions that the 2020 games would be delayed even as the global coronavirus outbreak has sickened more than 330,000 people and killed thousands, resulting in travel restrictions around the globe.

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Canadian Olympic Committee won't send athletes to Olympics this summer | TheHill - The Hill

Until Friday, the New Orleans Saints had been relatively quiet on the free agency-front. Other than signing safety Malcolm Jenkins to a 4 year, $32 million contract, the Saints had yet to make a huge splash. Then on Friday, it all erupted. News broke that New Orleans was resigning fan-favorite offensive guard Andrus Peat to a new, five-year deal. While the Saints fanbase was busy imploding over the Peat move, Mickey Loomis, Sean Payton and Khai Harley were hard at work plotting the next step.

Then out of nowhere, all fears were assuaged, and Super Bowl hopes skyrocketed when news broke late Friday night of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders signing with New Orleans on a team-friendly deal that will span 2 years and guarantee $16 million. Now, lets take a look at what all of these moves could mean for the Saints heading into the 2020 season, and how it will reshape the look of the squad.

The signing of Peat is one that most Saints fans will be incredibly unhappy with. But the truth is, it was necessary. Arguably the best guard still available, he also understands the offense well, and contingency plans are in place in case he get injured. But seriously, take a look at Deuce Windhams piece on the new Peat deal because that sums it up better than I ever could. Bottom line, despite Peats high variance play, it keeps one of the better offensive lines intact that will be heavily tasked week in and week out with protecting an aging quarterback.

Jenkins is perhaps one of the most shrewd pickups of the free agency period. While Vonn Bell was excellent last year for New Orleans (when he was awarded a 64.6 grade from Pro Football Focus), Jenkins was slightly better at 68.6. Jenkins plays up in coverage much better than Bell, but does not have the same strengths playing the line. Furthermore, Bell turned down an offer from the Saints prior to Jenkins signing. New Orleans needed to ensure that the safety position was solidified before moving on to the next endeavor. Hence the reason why the Saints pivoted to a reunion with Jenkins. Now, none of this isnt to say a new deal with Bell isnt going to happen, but it is incredibly unlikely. After all, New Orleans still could use additional help at the position.

Jenkins will provide a much needed veteran presence on the secondary squad who is still relatively young. While cornerback Marshon Lattimore is entering his fifth-year, and fellow cornerback Janoris Jenkins will see his return, their is still plenty of green on the squad. Players such as safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Marcus Williams will do well to have Jenkins as a leader and mentor.

Finally, the move everyone has been waiting for since 2018, the signing of a legitimate wide receiver opposite of Michael Thomas. Late Friday night, New Orleans made a surprise move by signing Sanders on a two-year deal. Time and time again the Saints have stated that spending big on free agent wide receivers was not only unwise, but a direction they were reluctant to go. But, when Sanders is willing to sign on a team-friendly deal, and will help reshape the look of the offense, you pull the trigger.

Sanders had an excellent 2019 campaign. Due to a scheduling quirk, the 33-year old played in 17 games, but truly exploded when the Denver Broncos traded him to the San Francisco 49ers. In 10 games with the 49ers, Sanders was able to rack up 502 yards receiving and three touchdowns. If he continued to average 50.2 yards per game, that would have ranked him third on the Saints for any player in 2019.

Quarterback Drew Brees now has two sure-handed wide receivers on his offense, which will force defenses out of double coverage on Thomas, and running back Alvin Kamara. Couple that with the breakouts of tight end Jared Cook, and Swiss-Army Knife Taysom Hill and the New Orleans offense just became one of, if not the most potent in the league.

There is still some time to go until the 2020 season, and the Saints still have needs at cornerback, and linebacker. However, it is plausible, possibly even likely that the team will take a wide receiver in the first round of the draft due to the incredible depth. Anything more than what New Orleans has already done will just be considered lagniappe.

Read more from the original source:
An active Saints free agency is helping reshape the Super Bowl landscape - Canal Street Chronicles

When Mike and Kari Zazzara began looking for a home where their family could spread out in Marin County, Calif., they thought what they wanted was a teardown.

Experienced renovators, they had already demolished and rebuilt one home in San Francisco and were looking forward to doing the same thing in a new place, so they could create exactly what they wanted.

That was before they stumbled on a listing for a house they hadnt expected: a low-slung modern home in Kentfield, designed in 1946 by the architect Henry Hill, of Mendelsohn, Dinwiddie and Hill.

We saw this house, and it really resonated with us, said Mr. Zazzara, 49, a banker who works in construction financing.

I just fell in love with the lines, the views and the location, said Ms. Zazzara, 47, adding that the home had been featured in House & Garden magazine in 1948. It was a diamond in the rough.

Although it had dated finishes, and the single-pane windows, antiquated building systems and minimal insulation were all of concern, the bones of the house were great, Mr. Zazzara said. The midcentury vibe was strong.

So they shifted their focus to planning a restoration and, after finding out there were multiple offers on the property, bid far above the listing price of about $2.5 million, to secure it for $2.9 million, in July 2013.

They moved in immediately, sold their home in San Francisco and enrolled their twins, Austin and Olivia, now 9, at a local school. Then they called Fischer Architecture, in Berkeley, to begin planning the updates and changes.

You could immediately see the beauty of the place, and that it was a prime example of postwar Bay Area style, said Andrew Fischer, who runs the firm with his wife, Kerstin Fischer. These architects were excited about this freedom and new sense of architecture, and what it could bring to how we live.

Their dreams, however, kind of outpaced the technology, he added, noting that the house was nearly impossible to keep warm in the winter and that its cantilevered sections were sagging. Some parts of the floor plans also didnt reflect the way most people want to live today.

The master suite, for example, was split in two and connected by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, so the man would sleep in one room, and the woman would sleep in the other, Mr. Zazzara said.Also, the kitchen was closed off from the rest of the house, and the entry hall was awkward and cramped.

There are often programmatic problems when we go in to work on these older houses, Ms. Fischer said. There is a formality and separation of spaces that doesnt really apply anymore.

The big question, she said, was how to maintain the resource of this prime specimen of a house, but insert the functionality and comforts of 21st-century living.

By the spring of 2015, they had a plan. They would replace an existing cabana in the yard with a pool house that had its own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living space; upgrade the materials, finishes and systems of the main house, while reconfiguring parts of the floor plan; and build an addition to accommodate a new master suite.

To dramatically overhaul the one-acre lot, the Zazzaras engaged David John Bigham, a landscape architect, asking him to use leftover pieces of the overgrown landscape to create walking trails, gardens and a vegetable patch. When they discovered that the original kidney-shaped pool was failing, they realized it would have to be replaced, as well.

The family was intent on living in the house during construction, so their contractor, Olson Bros., completed the work in three phases.

First, the construction crew built the pool house, which took about nine months and is intended to serve a wide variety of functions. At various times, the structure has been used as a changing room, a guest suite, a home office and a playroom.

We call it the Lego Lounge, at the moment, Mr. Zazzara said.

It served as the familys temporary accommodations, however, while workers renovated the main house, where they opened up the kitchen to the dining room with large sliding doors and expanded the entrance hall. They straightened out sagging cantilevers, replaced the glass with insulated windows and ripped up floors to replace the inefficient radiant heating system.

To preserve the original rough-sawn western red cedar wall paneling and ceilings, they tore off the roof and installed new wiring, sprinklers and insulation from above, before finishing with a new roof and solar panels for electricity and hot water.

Where the house was once a leaky energy hog, Mr. Zazzara said, now were actually putting electricity back into the grid.

Finally, after completing the restoration work on the existing structure, they added the wing that would hold the master suite.

By the time they were finished, it was the summer of 2018 and they had spent about $3.6 million roughly triple what they had anticipated at the outset.

As with any renovation project, there were many surprises along the way.

But part of it was a function of the fact that we made a conscious decision not to cut any corners, Mr. Zazzara said. We realized this is a place we could be in forever.

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.

Read more here:
Instead of Tearing It Down, They Rescued It - The New York Times

THE following planning applications have been decided by Wiltshire Council and the Planing Inspectorate recently.

TROWBRIDGE: Michael Jackson, of Summerleaze, has had his appeal against the refusal of his plans to put up a 1.8m wooden fence dismissed. The fence, which was already installed, was found by the inspector to differ from the application put to the council. The inspector wrote: I do not consider that this fence offers a desirable precedent, and, in any event, it differs from the proposal before me as it screens a garden area to the side of the house as opposed to a front garden as in the case before me. Mr Jackson, in his appeal, pointed to nearby flats where some hedges are unkempt. The inspector said that this did not offset the harm the fence would bring to the character of the area.

MINETY: The council has refused to grant permission for plans by Ms Meeres of Allspheres Farm, to add an additional floor to the farm dwelling. The refusal said that the scale of the development was not justified based on the essential needs of the farm.

CHIPPENHAM: Mr Murphy of Pantheon West Ltd, has been granted approval with conditions to build five houses on the land between 19 Gladstone Road and 30 Westmead Lane in Chippenham. The conditions state that no development can begin above ground floor slab level until a scheme of hard and soft landscaping has been submitted. Additionally, a Tree Protection Plan must be approved before any works takes place.

CHIPPENHAM: Approval with conditions has been granted to Mr Hart of Challows Lane to install solar panels and an air source pump. The conditions are that no installation will start until a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited installer has demonstrated the Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installation will meet the requirements of the MCS Planning Standard.

BRATTON: A plan to build a new house and to remove an existing mobile home and concrete base and a permanent dwelling was refused by Wiltshire Council. Mr Eddington, of Lower Road, had his application turned down on the basis that the project would be an inappropriate, unsustainable form of development.

CHAPMANSLADE: A change of use for the land on the south-west side of Black Dog Hill for use by gypsies was refused by the council. The proposal, which would have created two gypsy pitches including mobile homes, touring caravans and dayrooms, was refused due to the increased use of access to the A36 and its impact on highway safety. The officers also said the site is a Special Landscape Area, and were worried about the location not meeting the needs of potential future occupants.

MALMESBURY: Dr Armstrong of Cross Hayes Lane has had an application to replace her wooden conservatory approved on condition the work follows the plans submitted.

MALMESBURY: Mr Cole of Burton Hill, has had his application to remove the internal wall of his home which divides the kitchen and dining area approved with condition it is carried out according to the plans.

GARSDON: Mr Treadaway of Heath Farm, has had his application for extensions and alterations to the outbuildings on the farm approved, on condition that they are not occupied at any time other than as ancillary to the main dwelling.

CALNE: Mr Berry, of Chippenham, has had his application for partial conversion of the White Hart Hotel to provide eight homes, retaining and refurbishing the pub, approved on condition are that no works shall begin until full details on the refurbishment have been submitted, as well as details on the extent of the repointing to be carried out on the brick and stonework.

MARLBOROUGH: Approval with conditions has been granted to Mrs Lemon of Grafton Road, for the conversion of an existing stable barn and garage block into holiday let accommodation. The conditions are that the development is carried out in line with the approved plans, no one should occupy the premise for more than 28 days, that an up-to-date register of anyone who stays is kept and that the removal and disposal of the asbestos cement roof is done by a licensed contractor.

MELKSHAM: Allim Chowdhury of Blackmore Road was given approval with conditions for a single-storey rear extension on 58 Barnwell Road, Melksham. The planning officer said that all development must be carried out in accordance with the approved plans.

Original post:
PLANNING: Here's what's happening where you live - The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald

THE Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is calling on farmers to make their voice heard on the future of farming.

I was at Leyburn auction mart the other day and was told about a farmer in the national park who was giving up his beasts.

He had decided against toiling on, not because of the low rewards but because of public antipathy.

Very necessary declarations of climate and nature emergency do appear to have engendered very unnecessary anti-farming and anti-meat sentiment.

Nowadays there are often tears of despair around farmers breakfast tables, wrote a farmer to a national newspaper last week.

There can be no denying that changes in agricultural practices over the past 50 years have had negative impacts on the environment and wildlife here in the national park as elsewhere.

The gripping of the moors, the almost wholesale switch from hay to silage, and the reliance on bought-in feedstuffs rather than grass to fatten animals are some examples.

There is mounting evidence that current stocking levels in the uplands are unprofitable, as well as unsustainable in the longer term.

But it should be declared loud and clear that having grazing livestock in the Dales is absolutely essential for the landscape, for nature, for the fertility of the soil and for food on our plates.

From the National Park Authoritys perspective, farming also has a key part to play in tackling the challenges presented by a changing climate.

What we really need now is for farmers to make their voices heard above the din.

A little reported but very important consultation was launched by Defra at the end of February.

The department released a policy and progress update on the Agriculture Bill as well as a policy discussion document containing initial thinking for the proposed Environment Land Management scheme (ELM).

It was the detail that many people had been waiting for these past couple of years.

Policy makers in London are often accused of being out of touch.

But I genuinely think they have listened carefully. You might say I would say that.

But take the time to read the documents (easier said than done during lambing) and you cant miss the desire to reach out.

We want to co-design the ELM scheme with those people who know best, says Defra. And, further, We are keen to avoid the mistakes of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and learn from those people who know best.

Note the repetition of people who know best, by which is meant farmers and land managers.

They might as well have written stick your oar in now, please!

There is an opportunity to be seized here.

The National Park needs an English agriculture policy that supports sustainable farming in the uplands.

It also needs an ELMs which invests big in helping farmers to farm in a way that produces landscape-scale environmental enhancements.

Over the next few weeks, groups that the National Park Authority is involved in including the Northern Hill Farming Panel and the Dales Farming and Land Management Forum will be submitting their responses to the consultation.

As the analogy goes, the policy is in the mixer and its time for farmers and land managers to shovel in their thoughts before the pour and set.

Anyone wishing to read Defras Farming For The Future report which was published in February can see it by going to the website at: https://bit.ly/38YATFb

It cover such topics as food production, plant and tree health , rural resilience and moving away from farm subsidies.

Read the rest here:
Make your voice heard on the future of farming - Craven Herald

Anybody who thought candidate Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Hill's Morning Report - Biden commits to female VP; CDC says no events of 50+ people for 8 weeks This week: Senate balances surveillance fight with growing coronavirus concerns Juan Williams: Trump must be held to account over coronavirus MORE might scale back his war with the press once he got elected was sorely mistaken. Even with the pressures and daily challenges of the White House, Trump seems never to miss an opportunity to bash his media antagonists. From press sprays to rallies, media bashing is part of Trumps schtick. His devoted followers love it and expect it. The press doesnt like the savage critique, but most reporters recognize Trump anti-media rants are now baked into the relationship.

But the Trump machine has now taken things in a new direction, and the repercussions are much more serious.

The Trump 2020 campaign apparatus has filed defamation lawsuits against three major news organizations. The outlets CNN, New York Times, and Washington Post are being sued over commentaries published in the last year. Each of the commentary topics, as one might have guessed, dealt with Russian interference in the 2016 election and the Trump campaigns supposed connection to it.

Trumps criticism of the press hurts reporters feelings and may play a factor in the press low credibility ratings. It is one thing for media outlets to battle Trump in the public opinion arena, but taking the brawl into the courtroom is a new and dangerous escalation against the media.

There is little doubt this new anti-press strategy is designed to make news organizations pause and ponder before engaging in criticism of Trump. This is the classic example of the chilling effect. No news outlet wants to pay for lawyers and show up in court, even for lawsuits they suspect are frivolous. Libel lawyers are expensive, whether in the courtroom or in the newsroom, where they might now need to hang out so as to screen/pre-approve all copy with potential criticism of the Trump administration.

In addition to Trump, other politicians are now lining up to sue the press. Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is moving forward with a suit against the New York Times. Congressman Devin NunesDevin Gerald NunesNunes urges Americans to 'stop panicking': 'It's a great time to just go out' if you're healthy Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers gear up for another week fighting the coronavirus, seek to curb fallout Trump escalates fight against press with libel lawsuits MORE (R-Calif.) has sued CNN and a reporter for Esquire. Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, a Democrat, just had his defamation suit against CBS dismissed, but promises an appeal.

Odds are the Trump campaign cant win in court and could evensee these suits dismissed outright. A public figure (and what figure could be more public than the president?) has to get over a high bar to win a defamation suit. The standards were established in a 1964 landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of New York Times v. Sullivan. The plaintiff must not only prove the piece of journalism was false and defamatory, but also that it was published recklessly and with malicious intent to do damage to the pubic figures reputation. Assessing a reporters maliciousness is mind-reading most courts are hesitant to do. Further, courts figure that politicians have avenues to battle back rhetorically and to set the record straight. And nobody has more direct access to these avenues than the president.

Public figures must be subject to careful scrutiny and criticism from the citizens free press surrogates. Todays Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice John Roberts, has a well-earned reputation for supporting robust and rowdy free expression under the First Amendment.

But the press outlets involved arent so holy either. The journalistic pieces that prompted these defamation lawsuits were labeled as commentary/opinion. Each, however, seems to blend in an assumption about Trump-Russia connections in the election. Thats the rub. Opinions based on incorrect evidence might not get full protection in court. Labeling a column as opinion is not a free pass to push a potential falsehood. And the Trump campaign presents the Mueller report as proof there was no conspiracy with Russia during the election.

This all brings to mind a lyric from the 1960s protest song by Buffalo Springfield, Nobodys right if everybodys wrong. On one side, according to Trump's critics, is a thin-skinned president who doesnt like negative press coverage and runs to court with cage-rattling lawsuits. And then, according to the Trump campaign and other media critics, there are press outlets so determined to smear Trump with Russian collusion that their opinion writers out-kick their coverage.

Whatever gets decided on these lawsuits in lower courts, it would be helpful if the losing side pushed appeals all the way to the Supreme Court. Public figures and the press alike could use up-to-date clarification of what constitutes defamation in the year 2020. Much has changed in the public affairs landscape since the Sullivan decision over half a century ago.

Justice Clarence Thomas last year publicly called for the Court to take up a defamation case that would reconsider the standards established in the Sullivan decision. These Trump lawsuits could be the prompt the Court needs. It is time for the Court to provide more precise guidance on how to maintain free-wheeling public commentary while protecting high profile figures from being analyzed/criticized without a foundation in real evidence.

Jeffrey McCall is a media critic and professor of communication at DePauw University. He has worked as a radio news director, a newspaper reporter and as a political media consultant. Follow him on Twitter@Prof_McCall.

Original post:
Trump steps up intensity in battle with media | TheHill - The Hill