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Pogba’s B sample positive, could face lengthy ban

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba could be facing a lengthy ban from football after his B sample displayed evidence of elevated levels of testosterone.

The former Manchester United star initially tested positive following the Serie A game with Udinese on August 20 – in which he was an unused substitute – and was provisionally suspended.

His B sample has also returned a positive test and his case will now be heard by the Italian National Anti-doping office who will ask for Pogba’s observations.

When news of his A sample broke, the player’s agent Rafaela Pimenta said: “What is certain is that Paul Pogba never wanted to break a rule.”

If he is found guilty of doping, the France World Cup winner could face a suspension of between two to four years.

The news compounds a miserable spell for Pogba, who joined United in 2009 as a teenager before leaving for Juventus in 2012. He rejoined United in 2016 for a then world-record fee of £89million only to run down his contract and move back to Turin at the end of the 2021/22 season.

His second spell at Juve has not gone as planned due to injury.

The 30-year-old managed just 162 minutes of playing time in all competitions last season and has made two substitute appearances this term.

Max Verstappen can secure third F1 World Championship in Qatar this weekend

After another dominant season by Red Bull and their number-one driver, two-time world champion Max Verstappen can become a three-time world champion this weekend in Qatar.

With still five races left of the 2023 FIA Formula One race calendar, Red Bull have already secured the constructors championship last time out at Suzuka. 

Verstappen needs a 146-point lead coming out of this race weekend, but not only that, the Dutch driver can even secure the title in the sprint race on Saturday before the grand prix race on Sunday. 

In a never-done-before style, much like most of the records broken and stats made and created by Red Bull and their championship-winning driver this season, no driver has won a title in a sprint race.

With the sprint being a reasonably new addition to F1 race weekends, we have looked at the different ways in which Verstappen could secure the title.

How can Max Verstappen win the 2023 F1 Drivers’ Championship?

  • Finish sixth or higher in the sprint race – Verstappen claims the F1 title no matter where Perez finishes.
  • Finish seventh in the sprint, and Perez must win the sprint to deny Verstappen the title – at which point he can still claim his third championship crown at Sunday’s grand prix.
  • Finish eighth in the sprint, and Perez finishes outside the top two. 
  • If he misses out on any points in the sprint, Verstappen will win the world championship if Perez finishes outside the top three.
  • If Max misses out and Perez finishes inside the top three, All will not be lost for Verstappen. He needs that 146-point lead to win the title after Sunday’s grand prix. His current advantage is 177.

A Deep Dive: Why These Stocks Are Dominating Trade Volumes This Year

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Understanding the currents in the stock market’s changing sands is half the fight. Certain stars shine brighter than others as we traverse these financial waters. Let’s unpack the mysteries of this year’s most traded equities and figure out what’s driving these chosen handful to the spotlight.

Understanding Trade Volumes

Consider the stock market to be a crowded bazaar, with each stock representing a booth. The most popular booths, where products change hands quickly, are analogous to the most traded stocks. Their popularity might be attributed to the quality of their wares, current trends, or even the stall owner’s charm. In stock jargon, trading volume represents the number of shares exchanged, providing information about the stock’s current demand.

A spike in trade volume is analogous to an unexpected inflow of clients to a stall. It denotes increased attention, which is frequently triggered by big corporate news, market movements, or developing trends. Diminished volumes, on the other hand, may indicate decreasing interest or eventual stagnation.

Furthermore, understanding trade quantities is critical for a variety of reasons. It assists in determining the liquidity of a stock, evaluating market mood, and forecasting prospective price changes. Large transaction volumes, particularly in the most actively traded equities, frequently indicate high market conviction, which can be a bullish or bearish indication.

Astute investors may make educated judgments by closely watching these volumes and spotting trends, profiting on market momentum and avoiding possible traps.

Factors Influencing High Trade Volumes

Diving deeper, several elements can propel stocks to stardom, boosting their trade volumes.

Business Efficiency

A company’s great success might explode its stocks in the same way that a blockbuster movie does. Some firms have reported great financial results, debuted breakthrough products, or announced game-changing acquisitions this year, prompting investors to rally behind them.

Economic Situation

The economy, that massive wheel that propels industry forward, wields considerable power. Booming industries, favorable government regulations, or global market trends can bring some industries and, by implication, their stocks to the forefront.

Media and Public Perception

Never underestimate the power of a good story. Whether it’s a tweet from a business mogul or a viral news article, media can set stocks ablaze. This year, some stocks have benefited from positive press, endorsements, or even mere mentions in influential circles.

Technological Innovations

In this digital era, innovation is the name of the game. Companies that introduce groundbreaking tech or redefine customer experiences can see their stocks soar. From AI breakthroughs to sustainable solutions, innovation has been a driving force behind some of this year’s most traded stocks.

Spotlight on the Dominant Stocks

In this bustling marketplace, some stocks naturally command more attention. These are the stocks that have consistently shown up on the radar, be it due to stellar performance, disruptive innovation, or strategic moves that have left the market abuzz.

Company Profiles

Each dominating stock, with its own narrative, victories, and tribulations, is like a character in an epic drama. This year has seen firms that have transformed technology, brands that have caught the minds of customers, and underdogs that have risen through the ranks, confounding expectations. Each organization has carved out its own course, shaped by leadership vision, corporate strategy, and market forces.

Metrics of Performance

Behind the business stories, the data speak for themselves. The data displays a symphony of highs and lows, crescendos in quarterly earnings, and pauses in consolidation periods. These dominating stocks have frequently demonstrated resilience in market downturns and ambition in market booms. Their performance measures, whether revenue growth, profit margins, or market share, demonstrate their market supremacy quantitatively.

Analyst Opinions

In the chorus of the stock market, analysts play a pivotal role. Their research, insights, and forecasts often steer market sentiment. For these dominant stocks, the analyst community has largely sung praises, highlighting their strengths and underlining their potential. Their bullish forecasts, backed by data-driven insights, have often added fuel to the stocks’ fiery ascent.

Challenges and Risks

Nevertheless, everything is not well. Every stock, no matter how powerful, has its thorns. Regulatory obstacles, as well as future market adjustments, might all halt their triumphal march. Yet, as seasoned investors frequently state, with tremendous risk comes great potential.

In the end

As the curtain falls on our deep dive, one thing’s clear: understanding why certain stocks dominate trade volumes offers invaluable insights for any investor. It’s a blend of numbers, narratives, and a dash of intuition. And while the stock market’s song might change, the essence remains: Stay informed, stay agile, and let your investments tell a story of success.

Oldham awarded Social Enterprise Place status

Oldham has secured its status as a ‘Social Enterprise Place’ cementing its commitment to purpose-led business in the local economy.

The Social Enterprise Places scheme, set up by membership body Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), involves areas of the country where social enterprises and key regional stakeholders have come together to form thriving areas of social enterprise activity.

Oldham is now the 35th Social Enterprise Place in the UK.

Successful bid

The bid to become a Social Enterprise Place was coordinated by Oldham-based award-winning social enterprise Upturn together with Oldham Council.

Anwar Ali OBE, Oldham’s Social Enterprise business ambassador and co-founder of Upturn, said: “Oldham has a thriving, innovative and passionate social enterprise community. We want to do more to help them scale while also working with the wider business community to think about how they can use their business to do more good.

“Social enterprises have a crucial part to play in the town to help address challenges around inequality and building an economy that benefits everyone.

“We know businesses with a social purpose can contribute to an inclusive economy. They are providing jobs for local people through inclusive employment practices and becoming living wage employers, and they are providing essential services to their local communities.

“Securing Oldham’s status as a Social Enterprise Place provides an opportunity to build on the town’s culture of entrepreneurism and strong voluntary, community, and faith sector to create a more social economy.”

A cooperative place


Councillor Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: “Oldham has a distinguished history as a cooperative place where people work together to improve the lives of everyone. So it’s unsurprising but it’s a hugely proud moment to receive this formal recognition as a Social Enterprise UK place!

“This demonstrates that we are somewhere that social enterprises – organisations that demonstrably better our communities – can establish themselves, grow and thrive.

“Being a Social Enterprise UK place also acknowledges the vision and plans we have in place to grow in a way that is inclusive and takes everyone in the borough with us.

“We are one of only three places in Greater Manchester to be recognised as a SEUK place so far and it is very exciting to be leading the way in formalising our network of social enterprises, raising the profile of these organisations, and supporting them to succeed.”

Congratulations

SEUK chief executive Peter Holbrook said: “Congratulations to Oldham on being named a Social Enterprise Place! Social enterprises make a huge contribution to the town from providing community energy and affordable housing to running leisure centres, creative projects, workspaces, credit unions and social care.

“Addressing growing inequalities, the cost-of-living crisis, housing and work insecurity – the role of social enterprises has never been more important, and Oldham’s social enterprises are already playing an incredibly important role in supporting communities, providing critical services to the public, improving the environment, and helping to grow the local economy.

“We hope that getting Social Enterprise Place status will help act as a lightning rod to galvanise the social enterprise community, supercharge the sectors growth and deliver the economic transformation needed for the communities of Oldham so that they can realise their full potential.”

Accredited Social Enterprise Places have to set out a three-year plan for the future of social enterprise in their area. These plans must contain a series of specific aims and ambitions to support and sustain the structure and function of the Social Enterprise Place as well as detailed plans and actions to boost each area’s social enterprise community.

Manchester United slump is not acceptable – Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United’s levels have slipped since their EFL Cup win last season, a situation he describes as “not acceptable”.

United claimed their first silverware in six years by beating Newcastle at Wembley in February but have struggled since, losing the final of the FA Cup to Manchester City, suffering a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals and failing to string together a consistent run in the Premier League.

“We have dropped our levels and we have to get back to them,” said the under-pressure Dutchman.

“There are reasons for that, but still it’s not acceptable and we have to fight against it.

“We have a good foundation for the way we play, we have rules and principles and when they [the players] help and support each other, we will play better.”

United will hope to get their season back on track when they host Brentford tomorrow following back-to-back Old Trafford defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray.

Ten Hag, whose side are 10th in the Premier League, is looking for more consistency from his players.

“That is the problem we are struggling with,” he added. “In parts of the games, in big parts, we do a lot of things right but we have moments where we struggle and in those moments we can’t survive.

“We need to do the right things, be consistent. We have to step up.

“We’ve spoken about it, how we can improve. There is more than one factor, concentration is one, but there are other things.”

United’s current struggles are typified by England striker Marcus Rashford, who has not scored in his last eight games for club and country.

Ten Hag says Rashford has his full support and has backed him to regain his touch in front of goal.

“It’s normal to not always be at the same level,” said the former Ajax boss.

“Everyone knows his quality but if Rashy is doing things right, and the team is doing things right, putting him in the right places, then it’s up to him. We have seen in the last few weeks, he’s getting into good positions and is struggling but this will pass because he has quality.

“Everyone at Manchester United backs him, the whole team is supportive of him and believes in him so I am confident with this belief that this [situation] will pass.”

Leading Manchester tax firm grows team with two graduate hires

Specialist tax firm Forbes Dawson has welcomed two new graduates to its growing team.

The Altrincham-based consultancy, which works with some of the UK’s most successful business owners and entrepreneurs, has appointed Tom Stockton and Matt Parker as trainee tax advisors.

Tom joins after securing a first-class degree in Mathematics at Lancaster University, while Matt studied Economics at the University of Manchester.

Tax advisors

The pair will learn about all taxes, including personal and corporate, as part of their training to become qualified chartered tax advisors.

Matt said he was delighted to be joining the established firm, which has been in business for 11 years.

“Forbes Dawson has a great reputation as one of the UK’s most trusted and credible private client tax specialists,” he said.

“I am determined to learn from the senior figures within the business and I am looking forward to developing my skills and knowledge under their expert guidance.”

Tom added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to work with some of the best in the business. I was drawn to Forbes Dawson because of its exceptionally high standing in the market”

The appointments double the number of graduates Forbes Dawson has employed as trainees, after hiring Oxford graduate Marianne Cain in April, and Sarah Shrewsbury-Gee, a first-class Mathematics graduate, last year. The consultancy now has a team of 22.

Growing team

Laura Hutchinson, managing partner at Forbes Dawson, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Tom and Matt to our growing team.

“At a time when graduate schemes in the tax sector are on the decline, we feel it is vital to continue our commitment to helping to develop young talent.

“We believe our approach, along with the excellent promise our new starters are showing, will ensure the longevity of Forbes Dawson for many years to come.”

Bitter blow for the North: HS2 link connecting Birmingham to Manchester scrapped

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced the cancellation of the HS2 high-speed rail link connecting Birmingham and Manchester.

The decision follows the previous cancellation of the portion between the East Midlands and Leeds.

In lieu of these developments, Sunak revealed plans to allocate £36 billion towards alternative transportation projects.

Originally conceived as a comprehensive high-speed rail network linking London with major cities in the Midlands and North of England, the project has now been significantly scaled back to focus primarily on the Birmingham to London corridor.

The primary goals of HS2 were to reduce travel times, alleviate congestion on existing rail networks, and stimulate economic growth in regions beyond the capital.

Persistent challenges

However, HS2 faced persistent challenges such as delays, escalating costs, and budget cuts.

The grand vision of connecting London with Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds has been progressively dismantled.

In 2021, the government chose to forego the construction of the Leeds leg and opted instead to enhance existing rail routes to accommodate HS2 trains.

HS2 will not go to Manchester

In June, the government said it would still build HS2 from London Euston to Manchester and the East Midlands.

But the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said the costs were “totally out of control”.

At the Conservative party conference, Sunak said the latest decision would save £36bn, which would be used instead in hundreds of new transport projects – including road and rail schemes – in the North and the Midlands, “and across the country”.

HS2 will now eventually run from London to Birmingham Interchange, with branches to central Birmingham and Handsacre, near Lichfield.

HS2 trains for Manchester, Liverpool and Scotland will join the West Coast Main Line at Handsacre.

Before the link was scrapped, HS2 was projected to take an hour off Manchester to London journeys – from just over two hours to just over one hour.

“#ShowTN3Fingers” Campaign Raises Nationwide Awareness on International Trigeminal Neuralgia Day, October 7th

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Aneeta Prem MBE, CEO of TNA, the sole UK charity dedicated to raising awareness of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), has launched the “#ShowTN3Fingers” campaign to urgently raise national awareness of a condition often referred to as the “suicide disease.” This term highlights the severity of the excruciating facial pain associated with TN, which can drive sufferers to extreme desperation.

Unveiling the Hidden Disability: What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

TN is an acute and debilitating condition that affects the trigeminal nerve in the face. It is frequently misdiagnosed, with the pain often mistaken for dental issues, resulting in unnecessary tooth extractions. Globally, TN affects approximately 1 in 15,000 to 20,000 people and has severe mental health consequences, including social isolation.

Crisis Calls Surge: The Urgent Need for National Awareness

TNA’s freephone helpline has witnessed a distressing increase in calls from individuals on the brink of despair. Some are even contemplating extreme measures, including seeking euthanasia options in Switzerland, underscoring the pressing need for national recognition and immediate action.

Timely Intervention is Critical

TN symptoms often worsen during colder weather, and rising living costs exacerbate the situation as some individuals struggle to afford adequate heating, further intensifying their condition.

The “#ShowTN3Fingers” and “#FaceOfTN” Campaigns: How to Participate

Endorsed by Aneeta Prem MBE, these campaigns utilise a simple yet powerful three-finger gesture that symbolises the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. The public can join the campaign by capturing this gesture in photographs or videos and sharing them on social media platforms using the hashtags #FaceOfTN and #ShowTN3Fingers.

Emergency Support Network

TNA has partnered with Samaritans to provide essential acute case management, serving as a vital lifeline for those enduring extreme pain. Additional regional support networks are currently being established.

Stanislav Kondrashov’s Latest Publication Examines the Science of Joyful Moments

In “The Science of Laughter,” Stanislav Kondrashov delves into the intricacies of laughter, shedding light on its physiology and its profound social and health implications.

This publication offers a comprehensive exploration of laughter, unraveling its neurological origins, evolutionary significance, and the myriad health benefits it brings. It delves into the intriguing question of why something as seemingly simple as a joke can trigger hearty laughter, uncovering how this seemingly trivial act holds deep implications for human social interaction and overall well-being.

According to Kondrashov, laughter is an involuntary physiological response orchestrated by a complex interplay among various regions of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. This interplay gives rise to the euphoric sensation we experience as laughter. Furthermore, the publication discusses the evolutionary roots of laughter, positing that it likely emerged as a tool for enhancing social bonds among early human communities. This shared laughter fostered cooperation, contributing to the survival of the group as a whole.

The publication also highlights the subjectivity of humor, which can vary based on cultural, individual, and societal differences. What tickles one person’s funny bone may not elicit the same response from another. However, at the heart of humor lies an element of surprise, which often triggers laughter in the brain.

From a health perspective, laughter boasts a plethora of benefits. Kondrashov explains that it essentially serves as a mini-workout for the body, increasing oxygen intake, stimulating the heart, and promoting an overall sense of well-being. Laughter has the remarkable ability to reduce cortisol levels, effectively lowering stress and inducing a state of relaxation.

In conclusion, Kondrashov urges readers to embrace the joy and advantages that laughter brings. “The Science of Laughter” asserts that humor and laughter are not merely forms of entertainment but fundamental aspects of human existence, capable of bridging divides and illuminating even the darkest moments.

Readers are encouraged to explore the  full article and accompanying video.  to gain a deeper understanding of laughter. To access more insights and content from Stanislav Kondrashov, please visit www.stanislavkondrashov.com.

Guardiola: Arsenal and Liverpool will threaten Manchester City

Pep Guardiola believes Arsenal and Liverpool will be Manchester City’s biggest title challengers this season.

Ahead of City’s trip to the Emirates on Sunday to face an Arsenal side that pushed them all the way last season, Guardiola remains wary of Mikel Arteta’s men, as well as Jurgen Klopp’s resurgent Liverpool.

He said: “Absolutely, Arsenal and Liverpool from what I’ve seen. We haven’t played 10 games yet but the big clubs will always be contenders and Arsenal is one of them.

“They are a good team, they have a clear pattern. They fought to be champions and now they’re here again.

“Arsenal are back. When I was a young boy at Barcelona, Arsenal were always there fighting with Fergie’s [Alex Ferguson’s] teams and now they’re back. When you look at the calendar, going to the Emirates is always one of the toughest games.

“The recruitment they have done is top, [they have an] exceptional level of player.”

City will again be without key midfielder Rodri, who serves the final game of his domestic three-match suspension having played in the midweek Champions League win at RB Leipzig.

Guardiola accepts it is a big hole to fill but is confident his players will cope, adding: “I will talk today to my staff, train this afternoon and then prepare tomorrow.

“Rodri is one of the two or three best holding midfielders in the world so his influence on the team is big. But he’s not there. We’ve coped with absences in the past and we’ll have to adapt.

“The team spirit is much more important than any tactic. If you have a good relationship then if one player makes a mistake your team-mate will help you. That relationship is so important and when we have an absence as important as Rodri we need to look inside to solve it.

“We cannot start crying and complaining. We have to find a solution.”

Despite defeat at Wolves in their last league outing, City remain top having taken 18 points from their opening seven games. Arsenal are third, a point back.