Mediaboss Marketing

The world champion, Magnus Carlsen, starts his 2020 campaign on Saturday when he meets his arch rival Anish Giri in the opening round at Tata Steel Wijk aan Zee, the traditional Dutch tournament which he has dominated ever since he won its C group aged 13. In his past eight Masters appearances there Carlsen has won seven times and placed second once.

Carlsen and Giri have had some sharp clashes on Twitter, and a highlight of the 29-year-old Norwegians interview with the Guardian on Thursday was his relish in recounting how he psychologically crushed the Dutch champion when they met at Zagreb last summer.

The Wijk pairings have been kind to Carlsen in his quest to set a world record streak of 111 games unbeaten, breaking Sergei Tiviakovs mark of 110 against lesser opponents in 2004-05. He is in the top half of the draw with an extra White, and will hope for full points from some of his next opponents Yu Yangyi, Jeffery Xiong and Jorden van Foreest.

Carlsen is in the best form of his career after his vintage 2019 when he won 10 elite events, was unbeaten in classical play, held three global crowns, and in his spare time briefly reached No 1 in Fantasy Premier League. The fifth round at Wijk will be played in PSV Eindhovens Philips Stadion. Rounds start at 1.30pm and are free and live to watch online with grandmaster and computer commentaries.

Last summer, when Carlsen triumphed in Zagreb, where his game was zestful and sharp after his work with AlphaZero, he looked ready to break his own record rating of 2889 points and go for a round 2900. That proved a bridge too far and he starts the year at 2872. He will not achieve all those 28 points at Wijk but a strong performance there would set up another shot at the record in the spring.

Dangers abound. Fabiano Caruana, the world No 2, chose a lower profile in 2019 but will aim at a good start to the year before the candidates in March where the American aims to qualify for a world title rematch and avenge his defeat in 2018. Wesley So, the winner at Wijk 2017 in Carlsens only blemish, crushed him in Oslo for the Fischer Random title.

Alireza Firouzja, the 16-year-old whose world blitz game against Carlsen sparked a huge controversy, will aim to match Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky and Carlsen himself, who all showed their world class at that age.

Tata Steel Wijk is such a reliably classic fixture to launch the chess year that it is easy to forget that its future is not assured. Steel production is in severe decline in Europe, and 2019 was a poor year for Tata Steel Netherlands. In November the Indian multinational announced job cuts which may involve nearly 20% of its 9,000 Dutch workforce.

Chinas Ju Wenjun, 28, took a 2.5-1.5 lead on Thursday in her womens world title defence against Russias Aleksandra Goryachkina, 21. Their 12-game series has a record prize fund 500,000 for any womens world championship, though this is still only a fraction of what Carlsen and his challenger will earn later this year. The first half is in Shanghai, with a 7.30am start, and the second half at Vladivostok from 5.30am.

For most of this century the womens title has been decided by a 64-player knockout, leading to a rapid turnover of champions, but the format has now reverted to a candidates tournament and a title match. Nigel Short is trebling up as chairman of the appeals committee, official match commentator and Fide representative.

The womens match which would attract most interest from chess fans, between the two clearly best players of all time, has never happened except for a single game in the 2012 Gibraltar Open. Judit Polgar v Hou Yifan is the female version of Bobby Fischer v Anatoly Karpov, the legends match that never was. It could still happen if Rex Sinquefield, who organises many similar events at St Louis, gets involved.

3653 After 1...Rd6+? 2 Kc3 Qf3+ 3 Qe3 Blacks checks ran out and White won with his extra rook. Instead 1...Qf3+! wins after 2 Kc4 (2 Kc2 Re2 wins Q for R) Re4+! 3 Kc5 Qa3+! when 4 Rb4 a5 and 4 Kxc6 Qa6+ both win a rook when Blacks extra pawns decide.

Read the original here:
Chess: Magnus Carlsen to face arch rival Anish Giri in opening round at Wijk - The Guardian

A Pew Research Center survey found that wealth inequality is a big issue for American voters, regardless of political party, heading into the 2020 election. It even beat out illegal immigration, which is the platform incumbent President Donald Trump rode to victory in 2016.

The survey, released Thursday, found that 61% of Americans polled said there is too much income inequality in America, while 42% think that reducing it should be a major priority for the government. Fighting illegal immigration was only a major priority for 39% of those surveyed.

Suffolk University Political Research Center Director David Paleologos said that while the the record stock market is good for Trumps chances to retake the presidency in 2020, income inequality, and wealth inequality, is most pronounced when the stock market is doing well, Paleologos said, according to MarketWatch, which can be a boon for Democrats who can run on that platform to gain support from undecided voters.

When looking at the survey results overall, four of the five things that voters see as top priorities for the federal government leaned in favor of Democrats. Affordable health care was the most important issue to fix with 72% of voters, regardless of party-leanings, saying it needed to be addressed.

Dealing with terrorism was ranked the second-most important issue to address at 65%, while reducing gun violence (58%) and addressing climate change (49%) rounded out the top five.

Progressive Democrats like Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, D-Ver., vying for the primary and the chance to take on Trump have made wealth inequality a centerpiece of their platform. Both candidates have proposed wealth taxes that aim to tax the super-rich to fund a multitude of proposals like health care.

Another study released Monday showed some of the effects income inequality is having on America. The Life Experiences and Income Inequality in the United States report released by Harvards Chan school, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and National Public Radio, found that the top 1% of income earners basically anyone making $500,000 or more per year are living completely different lives.

Most of the top 1% highest income adults say they are very satisfied with their lives overall, their finances, their housing, their education, and their jobs, the study said.

Comparatively, middle- and lower-income adults report greater dissatisfaction than the top 1% in all of these areas, it added. Adults in the top 1% also report lower levels of anxiety about the future than middle- and lower-income adults. Few in the top 1% say they experience any major financial worries, and few ever have problems with medical or dental bills or prescription drug costs, the report said.

Only 8% of those making more than $500,000 had experienced any turmoil in regards to health expenses. Thats compared to 48% of those making $35,000 to $99,000 saying that medical expenses were an issue.

But what may be the most interesting find of the study is that the poor and middle class were almost as likely as the super-rich to say hard work paid off. Around 56% of poor, and 82% of the middle class, said they were either on their way or had achieved the American dream as well.

Maybe money isnt everything, but it seems to be a growing issue for many Americans.

Read the original post:
Survey: Wealth Inequality Beats Illegal Immigration as Top Issue for US Voters - Money and Markets

Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., discusses President Trump's immigration policy that requires asylum seekers to wait for their court hearings in Mexico instead of settling in the U.S.

An Idaho state senator wants his state's government to allow illegal immigrants to earn driver's licenses, although the cards would not work for purchasing alcohol or voting.

Jim Guthrie, a Republican, plans to introduce such legislation this month or in Februarywith the blessing of the Idaho Dairymen's Association, according to Townhall.com.

NY DMV DRAWS CROWD OFFERING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS DRIVER'S LICENSES

"We have undocumented aliens in the country, and that's a given,"Guthrie told the Idaho State Journal. Until the federal government decides to address the illegal alien situation, (the proposed legislation) gives us the opportunity to maximize that workforce while they're here, because they're here anyway and driving anyway."

An individual residing in the U.S. illegally would need to renew the driver's license every year and pass the same driving tests as a citizen, according to Townhall.com.

Part of Guthrie's motivation lies in a shortage of farmworkers and truck drivers.

"One of the responsibilities of the Legislature is to be responsive to the needs of constituents, and I'm hearing a very considerable need for this from my constituents,"Guthrie said. "I genuinely think it will help agriculture, and I'm getting a receptive ear on the issue."

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Bob Naerebout, CEO of the Dairymen's Association, said such legislation would go "way beyond agriculture."

"I think it has impacts on all of society collectively," Naerebout said according to Townhall."Quite frankly, if you take the time to look at (the issue) you should be supportive. You should be supportive of the fact that if we have people driving on the roads, they should be properly educated and trained to drive. We want people on the roads who have insurance."

New Yorkrecently passed theDriver's License Access and Privacy Act, whichallowsany person over 16 years of age to apply for a state driver's license regardless of U.S. citizenship status.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

See the original post:
Idaho to consider allowing undocumented immigrants to earn driver's licenses - Fox Business

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. State lawmakers are continuing to push a proposal that would allow undocumented immigrants in Indiana to legally drive.

It is an idea that has been introduced seven times, but the bill has never received a hearing.

Yet, some representatives believe it is an important issue to take on.

During her first term, State Rep. Chris Campbell introduced HB 1083. It would provide driving cards and learners permits to undocumented immigrants.

According to her bill, they would be required to pass a written test and driving test. It would also allow them to get car insurance.

The driving cards would not allow an undocumented immigrant to vote.

This has been proven to be good for the economy. It makes our roads safer, she said. This bill was brought to me by community members. As a legislator, it is up to me to represent my community.

It is believed thousands of undocumented immigrants fear driving to fulfill basic needs. Advocates of this bill say families should be able to go to work or buy groceries without fear of deportation.

We very much do not see this as a legal issue, we see this as a human rights issue, said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. We see this as a human dignity issue.

This bill was referred to the House Roads and Transportation Committee, but it is getting some push back.

Driving is a privilege not a right. You have to earn it in part by being a good citizen and obeying the law. When we try to extend privileges to those out of compliance with the law, we lower our historical standard. Follow the law, and you can obtain a drivers license. Work outside the law, and you cant. Most Hoosiers support legal immigration and oppose illegal immigration. Get legal, and we welcome you with open arms. Its really Hoosier commonsense! said former state Senator Mike Delph.

More than a dozen other states allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license. New York just signed its bill into law in June. It is a measure that has faced multiple lawsuits. One argued the policy would make New Yorkers less safe.

Go here to see the original:
Lawmakers push bill to allow undocumented immigrants to earn driving cards in Indiana - CBS 4 Indianapolis

Its one thing to talk about diversity and inclusion. Its another to use a political talking point and turn it into a threat to public safety.

Thats exactly what happened when New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal made New Jersey a sanctuary state not just for those who are on the wrong side of our immigration laws, but also accused criminals like the accused child rapist who was let go hours before ICE agents arrived to keep him in custody.

As if bail reform and sanctuary state policies weren't bad enough for public safety, now Murphy and Grewal have been successful pushing through driver's licenses for illegal aliens. Whats worse is there is a directive from the state that will not allow state agencies and law enforcement to cooperate with the federal government and share information. It's literally the opposite of what the 9/11 Commission recommended and law enforcement followed after the terror attack where 3,000 Americans lost their lives at the hands of terrorists.

Weve heard about the threat to public safety that the sanctuary state policies have created Jersey guy Matt Albence, who is the acting secretary of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, joined me a few weeks ago. Today we were fortunate to hear from another strong leader in Washington, the acting deputy director for the Department of Homeland Security, Ken Cuccinelli. He explained how giving illegal aliens drivers licenses is posing a very clear danger to law enforcement and our communities.

More from New Jersey 101.5:

Read more:
Immigration: Grewal And Murphy putting your family in danger - New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio