Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

TORRANCE, Calif. & EATONTOWN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Partner Engineering and Science, Inc., the countrys leading third-party engineering, environmental and energy due diligence consulting firm for the real estate industry, today announced its growth in 2020. Despite an economic slowdown that caused contraction across many sectors of the business world, Partner continued its decade-long expansion, hiring several of the industrys most well-regarded professionals, increasing headcount by 8% and bringing the company to a total of more than 1,000 employees.

After being founded in 2007 with eight employees, Partner has grown rapidly into the countrys largest and most active due diligence consulting firm, providing commercial real estate investors throughout North America and Europe with a broad range of services. By utilizing a dual-pronged expansion strategy fostering a collaborative, positive work environment to support recruiting and pursuing strategic acquisitions the company has consistently added talented engineering and due diligence professionals to its team, which, in turn, has attracted a large and growing client base.

While 2020 was a challenging year for much of the business community, Partner was fortunate enough to weather the storm well, and to actually grow many of our practice areas, particularly in the second half of the year, said Partners CEO Joe Derhake, PE. With the goal of providing the highest level of service to our clients, we are constantly looking to add to our bench of talent, and this was an unmatched year for Partner in this regard. When the 2008 recession hit, we were a fledgling one-year-old company, and our disciplined approach enabled us to not just survive that downturn, but to grow our capabilities markedly by adding seasoned industry professionals to our team. By following the same script in 2020, we were once again able to expand significantly, adding more than 70 talented members to our team and broadening the services we offer to our clients.

Our job as a trusted advisor to our clients is to listen and understand their needs, and then tailor a team to address those specific needs. I came to Partner because I saw an opportunity to better fulfill that mission theres a real team culture and nimbleness to pull the right resources and approach together for the client, said Greg Souder, who joined Partner in December as a Senior Managing Director Integrated Facilities Solutions. With Partners broad, multidisciplinary team, I can offer my clients a more integrated approach to assessing risk and managing their real estate. Partner already had a great platform and the trust of many of the top investors and financial institutions in the business. Now with so many industry veterans joining recently, the momentum is exciting going into 2021.

Due its rapid growth and industry impact, Partner has received a wide range of awards and accolades. In addition to numerous regional fastest-growing business recognitions, the company has been included on Inc. 5000s Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America list five times and has also been listed among ENRs Top 200 Environmental Firms and Top 500 Design Firms.

Some of the most prominent of Partners new hires include:

Construction Services team:

Architectural and Engineering team:

Integrated Facilities Solutions team:

ALTA Land Title Survey Team:

Environmental and Industrial Hygiene team:

Client relationship team:

About Partner Engineering and Science

Founded in 2007, Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. offers full-service engineering, environmental and energy consulting and design services throughout the Americas, Europe, and around the globe. Drawing on the companys diverse staff of over 1,000 seasoned professionals and its experienced leadership team, Partners multidisciplinary approach allows it to serve clients at all stages, from initial due diligence and design to development and construction, as well as the ongoing maintenance and optimization of real estate assets.

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Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. Announces Rapid Expansion Throughout 2020, Increasing Headcount by 8% - Business Wire

Thursday, February 18, 2021

GoLocalProv News Team

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Providence - what is the future of the office PHOTO: Will Morgan

Now, 71% of those workers are doing their job from home all or most of the time. And more than half say, given a choice, they would want to keep working from home even after the pandemic, according to aPew Research Center survey.

The impact to the economy, how we work and how we live in our homes is in complete transformation.

I don't know any organization thatrents office space that isn't rethinking its value, including our team at BIF," said Saul Kaplan, Founder and Chief Catalystof Business Innovation Factory (BIF). BIF is known globally for their innovation conferences.

"There's nothing like a year of paying foremptyspace to focus any renter's attention," he continued. "Being forced by #COVID19 to operate remotely has helped us and others to more clearly separate out those activities that require a central office from those that dont.

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One of BIF's major creations was the annual Summit which brought hundreds to Providece

Given what businesses in general have learned during the pandemic, there is an increased and significant need for flexible work environments. We expect the opportunity to choose between working in person or remotely will become the norm, said Kelly Ramirez, CEO ofSocial Enterprise Greenhouse(SEG) one of the critical startup incubators in Rhode Island.

For SEG, this means that we will continue to develop creative ways to accommodate Rhode Island businesses and workers across many different situations and provide dynamic working environments that can support new team needs such as asynchronous working, shared team spaces, and meeting spaces, said Ramirez.

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Wexford office building/CIC, RI invested more than $40M

Ramirez says that it is critical for early stage companies to have a network of resources. Prior to the pandemic there was a wave of startup spaces being created across the state from shared resources to open office spaces. Rhode Island invested upwards of $50 million in Providence and Newport alone on the Wexford complex andInnovate Newport respectively.

Entrepreneurs require a community of support, be it virtual or in-person. It is vitally important for them to foster connections and find the resources they need to overcome challenges and grow. Because of the pandemic, they are facing absolutely new challenges, and the goalposts are constantly moving. They will need to find creative and adaptable ways to engage at multiple different levels with audiences and customers, said Ramirez.

They will need to find new ways to collaborate with partners and peers, both in person and remotely, and discover flexible options to support teams. Many Rhode Island entrepreneurs and startups have already demonstrated their versatility in developing new models of engagement. Entrepreneurs are, after all, adaptive. We are eager to continue to support the leaders in our social impact community who are driving change and building a brighter future, in ways that are most beneficial, she added.

Architectural critic Will Morgan, who has spent his career looking at the spaces people live and work in, says he believes a majority of now home-ensconced workers will return to the office, or some kind of traditional workspace.

Most of all, people are social animals, and we need constant human contact. Interaction, even gossip at the water cooler, is an essential ingredient in productivity. Also, a work identity can be valuable, whether a series of recognizable tasks or being associated with a certain brand: a name on the door is better than a zoom screen, said Morgan.

"How different will the post-Covid office be? Many changes being predicted now are not, in fact, the result of the virus. The transformation to hybrid workspaces was already happening, as was experimenting with flexible work schedules. And, there has long been pushback against the open plan office. The need for improved and even incorporated childcare services has only been heightened by recent events, added Morgan. As always, smart developers and thoughtful architects can improve our working environments.

The Trends

Matt Fair of the commercial real estate firm Hayes and Sherry tells GoLocal, All indications are that the 'office' will remain an important cornerstone of commerce due to the need to bring team members together for collaboration and culture building, both of which enhance long term productivity. So far newly adopted digital tools have not been able to fully replace the physical gathering wants/needs of employees.

The office is likely to change over the next several years as companies redesign their spaces and in many cases shrink their footprints to accommodate their new needs. This will likely skew towards a more flexible working arrangement that many employees will require their employer to offer, such as working from home part time, said Fair.

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Home office - will it be the future PHOTO: GoLocal

As Fair points out, Rhode Island is a state of small businesses rather than tech giants. Companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter are telling workers that there is no rush back to the office and for many key functions, they will never return to the brick-and-mortar workplace.

We think the office market around the country will remain soft as tenants give back space, but will eventually strengthen again over the next few years as spaces absorb due to new job growth demand. The Rhode Island market is somewhat insulated from the negative absorption trends that we are seeing in other major markets around the country due to the small number of large corporate tenants in the market. The Rhode Island market is largely made up of a smaller regional and local companies whose space shedding is likely to happen to a lesser extent than the larger corporate entities, added Fair.

But uncertainty is certain. A survey of 2,200 U.S. workers conducted by the Conference Board, a research group, found that 44% of employees polled didnt know their companys plans to return to the workplace.

Fair added that in his work, collaboration is critical and that some of it can only be experienced in person.

"Our office has found that having a physical space to come together is very important," he said. "Not being able to bump in to co-workers and grab them for 15 second conversations to keep productivity churning has been a problem and has negatively impacted our business."

"We are an office of 10 people (8 brokers + 2 admin). Weve been back full time since June 2020 as nearly everyone has private offices. We did shut down again for a couple of weeks during the spike in late 2020," Fair added.

Smaller and More Remote

While the office may return, Kaplan predicts it will be far smaller, less formal and more shared space. Many workers will never or only partially return to the office. The pandemic has changed everything.

As the crisis subsides office activity will surely return but demand for office space will change dramatically. As current office leases end many organizations will consider smaller space commitments, rely more heavily on remote collaboration/work platforms and increase their use of shared physical meetingspaces and amenities as needed. The future of work is here and the market for office space will be changed forever, said Kaplan.

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What Is the Future of Work Space in RI - Will Staff Ever Return to the Office - GoLocalProv

According to Zeal Insider, the Gutter and Roof Vacuum Cleaners market is estimated to rise at US$ xx million in 2028 at a CAGR of xx% throughout the forecast period from 2020 to 2028. The Gutter and Roof Vacuum Cleaners market research report covers detailed information about market definitions and its classification, along with, global segmentation for Gutter and Roof Vacuum Cleaners market, product overview, industry outline, raw material and cost structure. In addition, the research report offers critical analysis of market dynamics, detailed study of key regional trends, and further delivers country-level market scope and revenue of the Gutter and Roof Vacuum Cleaners Industry. Moreover, the Gutter and Roof Vacuum Cleaners market report embraces industry regulatory policies, drivers, restrains, opportunities, and challenges, which helps manufacturers to take their strategic decisions. The report includes current as well as forecast data for the period from 2020 to 2028, and also provides compounded annual growth rate (CAGR%), which is measured for regional markets and individual segment. Furthermore, the report includes profiling of key market players and its competitive landscape.

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Gutter and Roof Vacuum Cleaners Market: Know about Impact of Covid-19 by Top Companies like Applied Cleansing Solutions, GCS Gutter Cleaning...

The crew of Klamath County Fire District 1 has moved back into station 1 after a $2.3 million seismic retrofit and remodel for the station built in the 1940s.

Station 1 is the third KCFD1 to receive state grant funding to make the buildings more stable in case of an earthquake. Station 1 received grants from Business Oregon and tapped into the departments reserve funds for an additional $350,000 in upgrades and repairs..

While the district ensures the seismic stability of stations to be able to serve the community in the case of a natural disaster, Chief Greg Davis said it was also a good opportunity to upgrade the old stations.

Our living facilities have needed some improvements for quite some time, he said. Weve been planning this out, putting in for those retrofits over the last couple of years, and as weve been awarded those grants, its a pretty good, opportune time to make some improvements.

From left to right: KCFD1 Chief Greg Davis, retired Battalion Chief Tom Morehouse and Station 1 Captain Kyle Shultz at the remodeled Gettle Street station.

The department avoided going out for taxpayer funding or levies, which Davis said is a testament to the departments planning for the future.

When you actually put people in these positions to live in these facilities for a third of their lives, and then, we want them to be alert and ready to serve their community, Davis said. And so providing a pretty livable space, something that we can actually maintain and take care of, means a lot.

Station Captain Kyle Shultz said the upgrade sets them up for the long haul of providing services to the growing community.

The importance is not what we need currently because you have to plan for the future, he said. Because our communitys not getting any smaller. Were not getting any slower. We get busier and busier every year, which means we need the ability to function in the fire station.

Station 1s three crews of six respond to about a third of the districts calls for service. During the remodel, the stations crews worked out of station 3 on Mitchell Street near Fred Meyer. The ambulance crew was housed in station 2 on Hilyard Ave. near Klamath Community College.

Construction took about nine months to rework the second floor and add improvements to the first floor. The top floor of the station had been added onto over the years as the district grew, which created a sort of patchwork layout with about five different levels on the second story.

The living quarters of the station received some badly needed upgrades, with a bunk room now becoming individual dorms and the restroom also getting added privacy with doors on toilet stalls and shower stalls.

The remodeled kitchen in KCFD1 station 1 that received a $2.3 million seismic retrofit, in addition to an update.

Making the living spaces more comfortable was particularly important, Shultz said, because crews spend 48 hour shifts as the station before having 96 hours, or four days, off.

The station is more functional for the crews with the hodgepodge layout now streamlined with work spaces downstairs and living spaces upstairs.

It is also more practical for firefighting, with a new ventilated turnout room where crews keep their gear. The room will help decrease the amount of fumes and soot the crews inhale when they come back to the station. The station also improved its decontamination room and expanded the engine bays to allow for more room around the fire engines that are bigger these days than they were when the station was built.

The new and improved turnout room at KCFD1 station 1 features better ventilation to keep crews safe from fumes that cling to firefighting gear.

Retired Battalion Chief Tom Morehouse spent years living out of station 1 before he hung up his boots in 2016.

I wish I couldve worked in this, he said about the new and improved station. After all the additions to the station, it had gotten to the point that it was cobbled together. It was hard to work with, and it was falling apart. And Im really happy that they were able to get the grants and they were able to afford an improvement. I think its a big improvement.

Shultz said it feels good to be back at the station hes been at for six years of his almost 20-year career with KCFD1. As much as the modern design is more comfortable, he said he also appreciates the features of the old station that stuck around, like the brick faade on the first floor.

Its nice because youre back in your little community thats yourswe all serve the community, right, but this is our response area, he said. Its comfortable, its clean, and I couldnt be happier to be back at this station.

KCFD1 Captain Kyle Shultz looks down one of two fire pole that remained in the remodeled station 1 on Gettle Street near Dairy Queen.

Next up is station 4 near Oregon Institute of Technology. That station is in the design phase of a similar, grant-funded seismic retrofit.

For a look inside the remodeled station and a tour of the station before construction, visit the H&Ns YouTube channel.

Read more here:
Crews return to remodeled, seismically stable fire station 1 - Herald and News

The Last paradiso / L'ultimo ParadisoSilver Productions

If modern soap operas no longer carry enough drama and passion, look no further than Lultimo paradiso, The Last Paradiso. Directed by Rocco Ricciardulli, this Italian film paints a narrative of love, loss, vengeance and betrayal while class warfare ensues throughout a village in the Apulia region of Italy in the 1950s.

Inspired by true stories Ricciardulli heard from his mother during his youth, the story follows Ciccio Paradiso (Riccardo Scamarcio) as he fights for better living conditions for himself and his fellow villagers. The community is composed of olive farmers who live under the thumb of Cump Schettino (Antonio Gerardi), the mayor of the village and owner of one of the largest olive farms, who refuses to pay them living wages. As Ciccios movement gains momentum, tensions mounting in his private life begin to take precedence. Ciccio, despite being married, falls madly in love with Schettinos daughter, Bianca Schettino (Gaia Bermani Amaral). After Ciccio mixes business with pleasure, chaos ensues in the lives of the Paradiso family and their village. The complex twists and turns in the characters lives and high-stakes scenarios give this film the feel of an Italian soap opera.

Though interesting and jampacked with conflict, the plot is confusing as characters stories grow increasingly tangled with one anothers. Deeply hidden family secrets emerge around every corner, throwing more complications into this already dense narrative. Most notably, rather than using the established cast of characters to resolve the conflicts created, new and estranged characters come completely out of left field with little to no set up. These sporadic additions muddy the overall denouement of the story.

As a whole, the writers are unsuccessfully torn between telling two stories. On one hand, they depict the rise and fall of Ciccio and how his own selfishness is his greatest enemy. At the same time, they depict Italy post-WWII as it grapples with immense inequality following the fall of its fascist regime and the placement of a weak government. At times, Ciccios personal conflict serves to successfully mirror the socioeconomic conflict in Italy, but more often than not, these dual plots come across as cluttered and difficult to follow.

The film beautifully matches color with on-screen conflict. At the beginning of the film as Ciccio and Biancas love blossoms and there seems to be nothing but hope for the farmers uprising against Schettino the film utilizes natural lighting. Additionally, the characters wear brighter and more vibrant costumes in the first half of the film. With the emergence of doom and as the conflicts begin downward spirals, the lighting becomes white and gray. For the second half of the film, the characters costumes also shift to being much darker. This creates an effective visual strategy that enhances the viewers emotions.

The forbidden romance between Ciccio and Bianca is the most enticing element of the film. The dialogue written between the two characters is melodic. Their most poetic lines, like, Every time I see you, its like my head is on fire and I cant make sense of anything, whisk the audience off into the dreamscape of these two lovers. Scamarcio and Amarals performances are extremely compelling, and their chemistry is palpable. Despite Ciccio already being married, the filmmakers do an excellent job of getting the audience to root for these star-crossed lovers.

Though well-intentioned, Lultimo paradiso crammed as much as it could into its story, making it overwhelming at times. This periodpiece romance is packed to the brim with drama and convoluted twists that may captivate some viewers but leave others confused and browsing for other titles.

Continue reading here:
Review: Italian film paints story of love, loss and betrayal - Ithaca College The Ithacan

Apple today shared additional details on upcoming Apple TV+ series "Physical," which Apple says is "coming soon." There are 10 episodes of "Physical," with the show described as a dark comedy.

Set in the idyllic but fragile beach paradise of sunny 1980s San Diego, "Physical" is a half-hour dark comedy following Sheila Rubin, a quietly tortured, seemingly dutiful housewife supporting her smart but controversial husband's bid for state assembly. But behind closed doors, Sheila has her own darkly funny take on life she rarely lets the world see. She's also battling a complex set of personal demons relating to her self-image... that is, until she finds release through the unlikeliest source: the world of aerobics.

At first hooked on the exercise itself, Sheila's real road to empowerment comes when she discovers a way to merge this newfound passion with the burgeoning technology of videotape to start a revolutionary business. The series tracks her epic journey from a stifled, overlooked enabler to a powerful, confident economic force, as Sheila transforms into someone we take for granted today (but was entirely radical at the time) -- the female lifestyle guru.

"Physical" stars Rose Byrne as Sheila Rubin, and Rory Scovel as her husband Danny. The show was created by Annie Weisman, who has worked on shows like "About a Boy," "Suburgatory," "I Feel Bad," and "Desperate Housewives." Apple has not provided a specific release date for "Physical," but says the series will premiere in summer 2021.

Apple also shared a first look at "Lisey's Story," a TV series that's also set to come out in summer 2021. Starring Julianne Moore and Clive Owen, "Lisey's Story" is based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, who created the show.

A third series premiering this summer is Schmigadoon!, a musical comedy that is set to star Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key. The series is described as a parody of iconic musicals, with the two main stars playing a couple on a backpacking trip that's meant to reinvigorate their relationship.

They come across the magical town of Schmigadoon, where everyone lives in a studio musical from the 1940s. They're unable to leave until they can find "true love."

More here:
Apple TV+ Shows 'Physical,' 'Schmigadoon' and 'Lisey's Story' Coming This Summer - MacRumors

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is branching out to welcome House Republicans into a new bipartisan group, a shakeup that reflects the historic diversity of the newly elected GOP class.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., chairs the group of Asian-American House members, which is currently made up exclusively of Democrats. But the election in November of California Republicans Michelle Steel and Young Kim prompted Chu to find a new way to work across the aisle.

"We are going to be starting a bipartisan API (Asian Pacific Islander) caucus," Chu saidFriday.

FILE: Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. At a House Armed Services hearing on military suicides Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, Chu testified, and in a dramatic moment described the death of her nephew, Marine Lance Cpl. Harry Lew, 21, who put a gun to his head and killed himself while in a foxhole in Afghanistan after fellow Marines allegedly hazed him one night. (AP)

Steel and Kim, along with Democrat Marilyn Strickland of Washington, are the first female Korean American women to serve in Congress.

NYPD ARRESTS SUSPECT WHO ATTACKED WOMAN IN ANOTHER BOUT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS

Chu said she gavethe new Republicansa choice to join Democrats in the existing CAPAC or to form a new bipartisan caucus where they can work on issues of common concern, including the uptick in violence and bigotry against AsianAmericans during the coronavirus pandemic.

"It seems that the bipartisan API caucus may suit our purposes more because there are certain specific things that we want to work together on and it can lead to more productive conclusions and more productive kinds of relationships where we can support each other on these issues and get something done," Chu said.

Steel and Kim both won in swing districts in California and are part of the most diverse class of GOP freshman in history. Itincludes women, veterans, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and first-generation immigrants.

OLIVIA MUNN SAYS FRIEND'S ASIAN MOTHER ATTACKED IN NEW YORK CITY

The new additions to Congress have forced traditionally Democratic caucuses to examine their membership, including the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Chu previously said Republicans would be allowed to join the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, but her announcement Friday signifies they've gone down a different path with a new bipartisan group.

BUENA PARK, CA - DECEMBER 18: Young Kim, left, and Michelle Steel were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November, 2020. Kim represents the 39th congressional district and Steel the 48th congressional district in California. They were photographed in Buena Park, CA on Friday, December 18, 2020. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Chu's comments came during a CAPAC news conference Friday on the rise of violence against Asian Americans during the pandemic. The House Democrats placed varying levels ofblame on former President Trump for inciting the anti-Asian sentiment by using terms like "Kung flu" and the "China virus."

"Hegave people permission to be openly racist and openly bigoted and it manifests itself in violence," Strickland said Friday of Trump's words and actions.

ASIAN AMERICANS REPORTED HUNDREDS OF RACIST ACTS IN LAST WEEK, DATA SHOWS

Stop AAPI Hate, a group that has been tracking the uptick in incidents againstAsian Americans, released a report this month that documented 2,808 firsthand accounts of anti-Asian hatebetween March 19, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020. At least126 of those accounts involved the elderly.

CAPAC representativeswerejoined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus to denounce the incidents of hate and to call on the new Biden Administration Justice Department to meet with the Asian American community to combat hate crimes.

"Forover a year our community has been fighting two viruses, not just the COVID-19 pandemic, but that of anti-Asian hatred and discrimination," said Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., who authored a resolution that passed the House in September to denounce anti-Asian sentiment.

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"We demand this xenophobia and violence end at once," Meng added.

Steel, R-Calif., this week has been circulating her own resolution condemning hate crimes against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. In a letter to her colleagues seeking support for her effort, she cites the recent fatal attack onan 84-year-old immigrant from Thailand,Vicha Ratanapakdee, in San Francisco.

VIDEO SHOWS SHOCKING ASSAULT THAT LEFT 84-YEAR-OLD SAN FRANCISCO MAN DEAD

"Stories like this are horrific and senseless," Steel wrote to her colleagues this week. "Unfortunately, this is one of many instances where Asian-American and Pacific Islanders have been targeted. Congress must come together and speak out."

So far, no Democrats have signed on to her resolution, Steel's office said.

Continue reading here:
Democratic Asian-American lawmakers to form second group that will include Republicans - Fox News

Airtels strong showing in the second half of calendar year 2020 has helped it maintain an upward trajectory in terms of market share. While Airtel added over 22 million shares between July to December 2020, Jio managed to add only a little over 11 million.

Airtels shares have jumped by over 40% since September, as the telco continued to build on its subscriber growth each month.

We like Bhartis calibrated approach in shaping up its non-telecom digital service offerings aligned with its homes and enterprise businesses, which is perhaps under-appreciated for now but may drive significant growth in the medium term, stated a Kotak Institutional Equities report dated February 18, 2021, reiterating its bullish stance on the company.

Airtels net subscriber additions were almost double of Jios

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Airtel records 3.8 million new subscribers in September more than twice that of Reliance Jios additions

Mukesh Ambani says Jio will rollout 5G services by June 2021 and it will go beyond IndiaZ

Simply put, Airtel says all it now needs is spectrum to deliver 5G services at a speed of up to 900 Mbps

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Mittal vs Ambani battle heats up as Airtel beats Reliance Jio to become the top telco in the country - Business Insider India

The NBL has hit its first major checkpoint of the 2021 NBL season, so there's no better time to take a step back and analyse what we've seen this far.

The entire league has descended on Melbourne for the inaugural NBL Cup - where we'll see 36 games over four weeks - and there's enough of a sample size to properly gauge some of the big talking points going into the event.

1 Related

Our Roundtable is back to answer some of those burning questions.

NBL Podcast: What Broekhoff means for SEM, Brandon Paul to the 36ers, and your ultimate hub preview

Currently at 6-0 going into the hub, is Melbourne United far and away the best team in the NBL?

Olgun Uluc: They really are. At a risk of sounding like a broken record, United just has so many top-tier pieces to be a contender, but then boast near-perfect role players to make them the title favourite.

When healthy, United just has too many weapons, and the chemistry seems to be at a point where everyone knows his role going into each game. But then, even in their game against the Hawks - where they were missing Chris Goulding, Shea Ili, and Jo Lual Acuil Jr. - they could then lean on the likes of Mitch McCarron and Jock Landale to be their superstars. Those two players have taken a step back, relative to their ceiling, for the betterment of the team; as much as the talent makes them the favourites to win it all, that type of selflessness is what clearly separates them from the pack.

Kane Pitman: Yes. It's really that simple and to this point, Dean Vickerman's squad hardly look like they have needed to get out of second gear.

Mitch McCarron leads United in minutes per game at 28.9 per outing. That number is good for 20th in the league, while Jock Landale and Scotty Hopson are still warming up at 26 minutes per night.

Dominant on both ends with the deepest roster in the league, there is daylight between United and the rest at this point.

Steve Smith: Yes. And it's not really close right now. There's a considerable gap to the next best team, which right now is prrrrrobably the Illawarra Hawks but could well be the South East Melbourne Phoenix imminently. United's sheer depth of talent means they can be without the likes of Chris Goulding and Shea Ili and still barely miss a beat. The additions of the surprising and hugely entertaining Yudai Baba and Mr Everywhere Jack White means Melbourne has an embarrassment of backcourt riches. Throw in MVP frontrunner Jock Landale, the ever-present Mitch McCarron, as well as Scotty Hopson, Jo Lual-Acuil and the steady veteran presence of David Barlow and this is a squad that is absolutely built for a special season.

Hot and cold: Which new import has impressed you the most, and which has been the big disappointment?

Uluc: When you look at the production and consistency of the new imports in the NBL, and then add pure effort into that equation, John Mooney has been the guy who's impressed me a whole lot.

Sure, part of it is the big-man vastly exceeding expectations, but really, it's just the fact that he's been such a vital piece on both ends of the floor, has already developed a nice rapport with Bryce Cotton, and is, as advertised, a rebounding machine. There were questions as to whether he'd be able to match the impact that Nick Kay brought to the Wildcats and, early on, he seems to be doing exactly that, and probably more.

As for the most disappointing import, it has to be Lamar Patterson. We've seen flashes of what he's demonstrated he can do in the NBL, but they've been few and far between, and the Breakers are paying a big price for it. He's looked a step slow, apathetic at times, and doesn't look to fit well with the other creators on that team.

Pitman: When Olgun, Steve and myself re-convened for the second NBL episode of Ball and the Real World my guys were shocked I didn't pump up my preseason MVP pick, Keifer Sykes.

The reason for that was that just days before, Bryce Cotton had destroyed the Phoenix in a big-time win for the Wildcats. If you want to be a guard in the MVP discussion you have to beat the best, and Sykes' has delivered since that night.

The Phoenix are 2-0 against the Wildcats since that initial loss, with Sykes averaging 21.5 points and 7.5 assists in those matchups with Cotton.

As far as disappointments go, it's low hanging fruit but I did think Donald Sloan would be a nice veteran guard to play alongside Josh Giddey as the teenager found his feet as a pro. Instead, Sloan was incredibly underwhelming and the 36ers have moved on within a month. Let the Giddey show roll on!

Smith: John Mooney had some wraps on him before he set foot on the court for the Wildcats but I think he's been better than advertised. Perth would be a shambles right now if not for his borderline metronomic frontcourt performances. There's a steadiness to Mooney that is almost reassuring. It seems like you already know what you're going to get every time he plays -- steady scoring at a high percentage clip, double-digit rebounds and a veteran presence that belies his relatively youthful 23 years.

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The biggest disappointment without a shadow of a doubt has been Lamar Patterson. The Breakers had high hopes for the dual All-NBL First Team nominee but he simply hasn't lived up to expectations so far. He's currently averaging just 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. This stands in stark contrast to his NBL career averages of 18.8 points, 5.8 boards and 4.0 dimes. New Zealand has enough on its plate being the Forever Road Team, having a highly-credentialed import come in out of shape and woefully under-performing shouldn't be one of them.

Our Panel is back for the newest episode of Ball and the Real World Podcast!

Predict who you think will be in the top-four at the end of the season.

Uluc: Melbourne United: See above. It's tough to see them ever falling from the top spot.

South East Melbourne Phoenix: There have always been two tiers in this NBL season: United, and then the rest. Well, with the addition of Ryan Broekhoff, along with some of the flashes we've seen thus far, the Phoenix are built to be at the top of that second tier.

Illawarra Hawks: It will be interesting to see how this team operates when Deng Adel and Cameron Bairstow are full healthy, but the heart of Brian Goorjian's group has been what they do on the defensive end, as well as the production from Tyler Harvey and Justinian Jessup. They have the weapons to keep stacking on wins.

Sydney Kings: Health will be the big factor here. When healthy, I truly believe the Kings can compete with any team in the NBL, but whether they can ever get to that point is the big question. Adam Forde's team is keeping its head above water for now, which gives me reason to think that they can then pounce when all of their pieces are 100 percent.

Pitman: Melbourne - This one is a no brainer.

Illawarra - Brian Goorjian coaching a playoff team, who would've thought?! I can't help but watch Justinian Jessup and think Steve Kerr would like him curling around screens in the Golden State offence however....

Phoenix - The Phoenix still need to tighten up things on the defensive end but unlike last season I feel they have the personnel. The guard rotation was a concern with far too much reliance on Kyle Adnam until the Ryan Broekhoff news dropped. Their offence was powerful to start...it just got better.

Breakers - Despite the sluggish start the Breakers have only played five games. I'm keeping the faith.

Smith: Melbourne United, Illawarra Hawks, South East Melbourne Phoenix and ... the Adelaide 36ers.

I hate saying the current top-four will still be exactly that at the business end of the season but the fact remains that United is a clear title favourite, the Hawks have hardly put a foot wrong and both the Nix and the 36ers have just significantly upgraded their rosters in areas that were previously considered weaknesses. It's hard to see Sydney recovering from an absolutely brutal run of injuries, both Queensland teams lack consistency and Perth is going to continue to suffer from a lack of depth to help out their dynamic import combo. As for the poor Breakers, they've been dealt an incredibly unkind hand in a high stakes game.

Who or what has surprised you most so far?

Uluc: The partnership of Isaac Humphries and Daniel Johnson wasn't supposed to work, but we've seen flashes of a really fun and productive duo.

It helps that Humphries is playing at a Defensive Player of the Year-type level, and that Johnson is basically on track for a 50-40-90 season, but the actual chemistry seems to be there, and it's helped the 36ers look decent early on in the season.

We thought it could be a turnstile defensively, but Humphries is leading the league in blocks and doesn't appear to be slowing down. On the offensive end, there was potential for a logjam, but both bigs can play inside-out, pass the ball well (especially to each other), and have effectively taken turns running a two-man game with Josh Giddey. It had the potential to be a disaster but, so far, they're performing as arguably the best frontcourt in the NBL.

Pitman: Illawarra's import duo. Tyler Harvey and Justin Simon have been electric on the surprise team of the league so far.

The NBL is hardly lacking for primetime weapons at the guard position and Simon's ability to defend on the perimeter and protect the rim has been simply stunning for a player at his position.

Offensively, Harvey has been on a tear. Third in the league for scoring and pouring in 42 percent of his tries from deep, the American has consistently bent opposition defences with the ball in his hands.

Smith: OK, I thought Tyler Harvey would be good. But not THIS good-good. As Hawks coach Brian Goorjian noted earlier in the season, Harvey just has a will to win.

Third in the league in scoring at a 21.9 points per game clip, the former Eastern Washington Eagle is also hitting 42% of his attempts from beyond the arc, hitting some absolutely audacious shots in the process with that picture-perfect jumper. Combine that with an ability to not only get hot in a hurry but to make it a sustained scoring burst and the Hawks have themselves a guard who can hurt opposing teams in so many ways, especially with that lethal floater that has given teams absolute nightmares.

It's not just the elite scoring though; Harvey has helped give the Hawks an on-court presence and identity that they desperately needed after the circus that was LaMelo Ball's lone NBL venture last year.

Fact or fiction: Cairns Taipans and New Zealand Breakers are, as their records indicate, the two worst teams in the NBL.

Uluc: I'd lean toward fiction here, but I'm not confident in it.

With the Taipans and Breakers, we have a pair of teams who just don't seem close to figuring out their identity. Mike Kelly's Taipans don't look like a team that brought the majority of its roster back, because there just doesn't seem to be any cohesiveness, especially on the defensive end. Replacing DJ Newbill's output was always going to be difficult, but the Taipans haven't been able to find that consistent piece, if it exists at all.

The Breakers get somewhat of a pass because of the mental toll being perennially on the road takes, but, with the talent that roster possesses, it's still fair to say they've been quite disappointing. Again, the firepower is there to make us believe they'll find their way - it was the reason we all thought they'd be an obvious finals team - but there's a saying about too many cooks in the kitchen, and that's what the Breakers look like right now.

Pitman: Cairns have been by far the biggest disappointment of the NBL season so far. Unlike New Zealand, there really is zero excuse for the slow start. This is only amplified when you look at the healthy stretch of home games they had to start the season.

Ranked second last in offensive and defensive efficiency (spatialjam.com), the Taipans problems expand to both ends of the floor. Now onto the Breakers with the next question....

Smith: I hate saying this for two very different reasons but it's absolutely true right now. The Breakers - as mentioned earlier - have been dealt the absolute worst of hands. It's borderline impossible for them to find a playing rhythm when they can't enjoy all the benefits that entails playing in the friendly confines of home. Never mind the ancillary advantages of staying in your own home, sleeping in your own bed and being around family and friends. All the things every other team in the NBL currently enjoys. Combine that with the sub-par performances of Patterson as one of the three main offensive options and it's an absolutely sure-fire journey to Struggle Town.

Cairns is a different matter entirely. The Snakes were a pre-season favourite to return to the postseason but the absence of DJ Newbill has hurt them far more than most of us anticipated. The expectation that role players would step up to fill the void hasn't quite been realised and subsequently the Taipans blew a golden opportunity to stash some early wins in an extended home stand at the Snag Pit. A 2-6 record (2-5 at home!!) is well below a passing grade for them but the NBL Cup gives them a chance to turn that around quickly if they can string together some stretches of cohesive basketball.

Which team needs the NBL Cup - a lot of games in a really short amount of time - the most?

Uluc: The Perth Wildcats have largely relied on two players so far: Bryce Cotton and John Mooney. Trevor Gleeson's team has also played four of its first five games against the South East Phoenix.

It's a weird situation to be in, so entering the NBL Cup - where they'll play eight games, against a different opponent each time - could be beneficial for the Wildcats in a heap of ways.

First, just getting reps in against different teams will be huge; getting reps is important, but doing it against a variety of opponents can't be understated. The quick turnaround with games could also play a big role. With so many games in such a short amount of time, Cotton and Mooney will need to take a step back at some point, forcing others to step up. In this quick succession of games, Gleeson can get a good look at who else can make a consistent impact on the offensive end, and build on that with the next game just around the corner.

In the same way the 36ers have already figured out significant parts of their offensive identity by playing a whole lot of games in a short amount of time, the Wildcats may be able to earn the same sort of progress.

Pitman: Coming into the season I had the Breakers reaching the postseason with a huge asterisk next to their name. Being removed from their home base and living permanently on the road loomed as a monumental challenge.

While it's still not home, the NBL Cup will give the Breakers a nice stretch of games in one city where they can begin to find some rhythm and perhaps run Lamar Patterson back into some vintage form because 10.4 points per game from the star forward isn't going to cut it.

Smith: As mentioned, the Cairns Taipans could turn their woeful start around in a hurry if they can find some momentum in the early stages of the NBL Cup. But I think the South East Melbourne Phoenix could well be in the same boat. Every time the Nix has taken a loss they've bounced back in spectacular fashion; look no further than the 56-point turnaround against the Wildcats in the space of three days. The addition of Boomers sniper Ryan Broekhoff to the squad at the back end of the Cup is obviously a welcome boost, but South East Melbourne also has a tremendous opportunity to consolidate its position inside the top four with eight games, if not all at home, at the very least in their home city. Keifer Sykes looks more and more like an absolute steal each game, and with Mitch Creek shouldering plenty of the load at both ends and Yanni Wetzell continuing to look comfortable, the Phoenix will be a handful for everyone, never mind when Broekhoff suits up and locks in from deep.

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NBL Cup round table the big talking points - ESPN

The Braves may make a couple more acquisitions between now and Opening Day, but their starting lineup looks to be set in stone unless the universal DH is agreed upon at the final hour. Any additions made between now and late March will most likely be focused on strengthening their bullpen and bench. Perhaps Alex Anthopoulos has a blockbuster trade up his sleeve, but I would be pretty shocked. The Braves should be very confident in the starting lineup they have heading into 2021.

As you can see, not much changes from last years lineup in the NLCS. Acua thrives in the leadoff spot, and with Marcell Ozuna back in the fold, there is no reason to move him from there. He will also move to right field full-time, where hes looked extremely comfortable in the past, now that Cristian Pache has arrived.

The two-hole is really the only spot I see up for grabs. Both Albies and Swanson have hit there and had a lot of success. Im expecting Albies to have a monstrous bounce-back campaign after an injury-plagued 2020, and hes shown much more consistency over his career than Swanson. However, Dansby is trending up, so it wouldnt surprise me if he etched his name on the second spot in the order permanently this season.

After that, I have Freeman moving back to the three-hole.Brian Snitkerspoke to the media yesterday and said he hasnt figured out what the lineup will look like yet, but its obvious Freeman will hit third if there is no DH in the National League. There will be significantly more RBI opportunities for him there.

Ozuna and dArnaud continue to protect Freeman in the order, followed by Swanson, who Ive already discussed, Riley and Pache. Perhaps Riley moves up at some point. Hell have to show more consistency, but his power makes him a middle-of-the-order threat if he can cut down on his strikeouts.

I have Max Fried taking the ball on Opening Day this year, and there isnt anyone more deserving. The strides hes made over the last couple of seasons have been astounding, and I dont expect it to stop. His stuff gets better every year, and his bulldog mentality is what every ace needs. Nobody should be trusted more to get the Braves going on the right foot than the lefty out of Santa Monica, California.

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