Marvel star Mark Ruffalo took part in the Instagram game that tells you which character from the Avengers you are.

The app’s new filter, which went viral soon after it was launched earlier this month, has been used by a number of celebrities – but Ruffalo seems to be the first actual Avengers: Endgame actor to post his result online.

For those who don’t know, the filter flits through several choices before allocating you a character and telling you which character you are.

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Obviously, it all means nothing, but it’s a bit of fun to pass the time – and Ruffalo, who plays Hulk in the record-breaking Avengers series, gave it a go.

The actor couldn’t feign his surprise when the Instagram app randomly allocated him... Hulk! (We’re going to hope he’s being genuine and this was the first time he tried).

Shape Created with Sketch. Marvel films – ranked worst to best Show all 23 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Marvel films – ranked worst to best 1/23 Iron Man 2 23. Iron Man 2 barely holds together. Rather than act as a straight sequel to the surprisingly successful Iron Man, Marvel Studios decided to overstuff the film with universe-building references (Black Widow, Nick Fury and SHIELD’s Agent Coulson all make appearances) and two-dimensional villains (played by Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke). The result is a film without any direction that serves as a Trojan horse set-up for the Avengers. Marvel/Disney 2/23 Thor: The Dark World 22. When the Thor franchise lost its director Kenneth Branagh between the first and second films, it also had to kiss goodbye to the Shakespearean theatrics that had lent it a sense of goofy charm. Directed by Game of Thrones’s Alan Taylor, The Dark World prioritises its VFX effects above all else. It’s a dull affair: Christopher Eccleston’s Malekith is (by far) Marvel’s worst villain, being a pile of prosthetics with zero personality, while Chris Hemsworth’s Thor completes one of the most unrealistic London Tube journeys in all of cinematic history. Marvel/Disney 3/23 The Incredible Hulk 21. Edward Norton’s version of the smashing Hulk often gets forgotten by Marvel fans – and for good reason. Whereas Mark Ruffalo’s bumbling interpretation of the character has a gravitational charm, Norton’s moping monster is void of any charisma. With Liv Tyler phoning in her performance as love interest, Betty Ross, the film falls emotionally flat and serves only as a by-the-numbers origins story. Marvel/Disney 4/23 Avengers: Age of Ultron 20. Just in case we’d forgotten that the Disney corporation is an all-consuming titan that owns half of Hollywood, the sequel to 2012’s Avengers decided to sneak in a little corporate synergy: when Iron Man accidentally creates a sentient robot (voiced by James Spader) who decides the earth’s only salvation is through the destruction of humanity, he announces his grim plans with accompaniment of a little citation of the classic “I’ve Got No Strings” from 1940’s Pinocchio. It’s a moment that exemplifies how Ultron feels like a cold, calculated operation from Marvel Studios. It’s merely tick list of obligations to move us on to the next chapter of the MCU. Marvel/Disney 5/23 Thor 19. Although Kenneth Branagh’s introductory outing for Marvel’s God of Thunder fared perfectly well on release, it’s suffered massively from the MCU’s dramatic sense of progression over the years. Certainly, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is a strong, well-crafted character right out of the gate, and his plot against his adoptive father (Anthony Hopkins) is delightfully heightened. Yet, it arguably took until Thor: Ragnarok for Chris Hemsworth’s hero to develop much sense of character beyond the initial “fish out of water” trope. Marvel/Disney 6/23 Doctor Strange 18. A self-centred wealthy white man ventures to a distant land and realises his superhero potential – sound familiar? That’s because Doctor Strange and Iron Man are basically the same story, except one uses magic and the other explosives. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Marveldebut impresses with kaleidoscope visuals but lacks the heart of Robert Downey Jr’s hero, leading to a film that wastes the talents of both Tilda Swinton and Mads Mikkelsen. Marvel/Disney 7/23 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 17. The first Guardians of the Galaxy was a risky Star Wars-inspired romp through space, following a bunch of a-holes who form an unlikely familiar bond. For the second film, James Gunn decided to turn everything up to 11, cramming half a dozen interweaving storylines, leading to Chris Pratt’s gaunt Star Lord getting side-lined. The sequel did, however, introduce the now beloved line “I’m Mary Poppins, y’all”, shouted by Yondu as he gracefully falls from the sky. A wonderfully comedic moment in a film that misses on another half-dozen punches. Marvel/Disney 8/23 The Avengers 16. Marvel’s first crossover film was an unparalleled cinematic event – one that arguably changed Hollywood filmmaking forever, now that every major studio seems to be attempting the “shared universe” approach to franchises. Although the MCU has refined the template since, The Avengers still established the focus on humour, character, and heart that would come to define the success story of Marvel Studios. It’s a blockbuster that feels large on all fronts, delivering thrills not only in the “Battle of New York” finale, but in the creation of a team of characters that feel perfectly balanced and complementary. Marvel/Disney 9/23 Captain America: Civil War 15. Despite Captain America: Civil War (AKA Avengers 2.5) featuring Iron Man, Black Widow, and Ant-Man (as well as introducing Black Panther and Spider-Man), the film remains first and foremost about Captain America. And that’s perhaps why the stuffed blockbuster works – were it not for a central focus, Civil War could have fallen into the trappings of other Marvel sequels in being too convoluted. The Russo Brothers also direct one of the best actions scenes in Marvel history so far, the airport scene, which looks as if it leapt straight out of a comic book. Marvel/Disney 10/23 Ant-Man and the Wasp 14. While the first Ant Man was a mirror image of its star Paul Rudd, essentially delivering a studio comedy dressed in spandex, the second found a new trick up its sleeve in the form of Evangeline Lilly’s Hope van Dyne – a smart, capable female hero who didn’t simply exist to serve as a caretaker for the male characters. Marvel/Disney 11/23 Spider-Man: Far From Home 13. What comes after the end? It’s the question that was hanging over the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since the release of Avengers: Endgame was sold to us as the ultimate, cumulative chapter in a series of 22 interconnected films. And yet, while Far From Home is distinctly mid-level Marvel fare, there’s a lot to be said for the fact it isn’t crushed under the weight of its own ambitions. It feels comfortably like the end of a chapter, the beginning of a new one, an epilogue, and a palate cleanser all at once. It also works perfectly well as a film about Spider-Man. AP 12/23 Ant-Man 12. Ant-Man should not have worked as a film. Just look at the title! Ridiculous to think a movie about a man with ant powers should work – let alone be a blockbuster success and part of the biggest cinematic universe going. Yet, despite production problems (Edgar Wright was initially meant to helm the film), Peyton Reed directs this hilarious heist film with aplomb, taking the Marvel world a little less seriously than others. Marvel/Disney 13/23 Avengers: Infinity War 11. Marvel redefined cinematic narratives once more in 2018, creating a single culmination to a decade’s worth of films. While it plays as total nonsense to anyone who’s a newcomer to the franchise (if that’s possible), it was, for fans, an unmatched emotional release. The Russo brothers faced the monumental task of making each crossover – from the Guardians of the Galaxy to the kingdom of Wakanda – work in a way that feels natural, while also ushering the MCU’s biggest villain, Thanos, into centre stage. Epic both in its sense of scale and stakes, Infinity War also stages one of the most memorable finales in blockbuster history. Marvel/Disney 14/23 Captain America: The First Avenger 10. With or without the beard, Steve Rogers aka Captain America has now become the brooding centre of the Avengers, but there was once a time when he was all about the old-fashioned heroics. Director Joe Johnston stayed true to the film’s 1940s setting in a film that embraces that pulpiness of early comic book history, as Steve punches Nazis and romances military officer Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), although her character is thankfully never relegated to the role of damsel in distress. Marvel/Disney 15/23 Captain America: The Winter Soldier 9. Despite centring on a super-powered American nationalist, the Captain America trilogy has the most consistent quality in the MCU. Its crowning moment comes with The Winter Soldier – an adrenaline-fuelled conspiracy thriller that features a spectacular twist and provokes questions regarding modern day surveillance. However, given The Russo Brothers root the rest of the movie in realism, the bombastic CGI-heavy ending is a little ridiculous. Marvel/Disney 16/23 Captain Marvel 8. Brie Larson gives a superpowered performance as Carol Danvers, the actor playing a hero that's both relatable and aspirational, strong but vulnerable. While Captain Marvel may not revolutionise the studio’s formula, the superhero's debut outing provides a platform to show off her Thanos-annihilating powers. Thanks to a smart script, it also offers some of the very best character development in the MCU. Marvel/Disney 17/23 Spider-Man: Homecoming 7. While Spider-Man’s miraculous arrival in the MCU came with Captain America: Civil War, it was not until Homecoming that we truly got to know Peter Parker. Tom Holland’s incarnation swings past Andrew Garfield’s version, thanks to the film’s lower-stakes high school story allowing for intimate moments with the character. Along with including some great comic performances (Jacob Batalon as Ned stands out), Michael Keaton’s Vulture makes for a terrifying villain, and the twist is superbly done. Marvel/Disney 18/23 Iron Man 3 6. While divisive among Marvel fans, Shane Black’s superhero outing – with the writer/director’s sharp, stinging dialogue – brings Tony Stark's story arc to an end (or what should have been its end) with humour and heart aplenty. As Robert Downey Jr’s genius, billionaire philanthropist deals with PTSD and struggles with his robotic creations, we see an actor giving his all. While Civil War and the Avengers films dragged him back into action, fingers are crossed Avengers: Endgame will give the character a similar emotionally satisfying send-off. Marvel/Disney 19/23 Avengers: Endgame 5. It’s a film that’s hard to place within the MCU canon, simply because the majority of its emotional pay-offs only work due to the groundwork laid by over a decade of filmmaking. Avengers: Endgame is less about individual storytelling and so much more about the collective experience of cinema itself. This exists to be consumed in the dark, surrounded by loved ones, as you all cheer, gasp, and cry in unison. The fan service at work may, at times, feel a little outrageous in just how bold it feels, but Endgame earns the right to indulge. This, above all, is a celebration of these movies and their impact on the world. AP 20/23 Thor: Ragnarok 4. Completely transforming the Thor franchise in a single, effortless move, director Taika Waititi injected new energy into the MCU. Ragnarok is perfectly balanced both as a standard Marvel movie, with all the right heroics and world-building intact, and as a work belonging exclusively to Waititi, filled with the humour and charm he’d previously displayed in What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. By finding a way to incorporate individual voices into its massive franchise machine, Marvel found the secret to true long-term success. Marvel/Disney 21/23 Iron Man 3. Where it all started. Iron Man subverted expectations by not only reintroducing Robert Downey Jr to the world, but by showing that a relatively unknown B-character could be at the centre of a blockbuster. Other cinematic universes fail because they attempt to introduce too much (a mistake made in Iron Man 2). The first Iron Man, though, had a self-contained story that only hinted at a bigger world – a world that would eventually become a multi-billion-dollar franchise. Marvel/Disney 22/23 Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Blasting the Marvel universe into space for an adventure with a truly ragtag group of heroes, including both a talking racoon and a sentient tree-creature, Guardians of the Galaxy is arguably the biggest risk the franchise ever took. And it paid off in spectacular fashion, with director James Gunn giving the superhero genre a light coat of B-movie glee. It also transformed Parks and Recreation star Chris Pratt into the major box office draw he is today. Marvel/Disney 23/23 Black Panther 1. Although Black Panther still dutifully fulfils all the requirements of a Marvel film, providing a bridge to films both past and future plus ending in a cinematic battle filled with CGI trickery, Ryan Coogler’s achievement as a director is to use a familiar framework to tell a radical story within mainstream filmmaking. In the strife between Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, the ruler of Wakanda, and Michael B Jordan’s Killmonger, he provided a nuanced, layered commentary on colonialism and black identity. It’s a film that triumphs both within its genre, bringing new perspectives to the superhero story, and outside of it, satisfying purely as a piece of narrative drama. Marvel/Disney 1/23 Iron Man 2 23. Iron Man 2 barely holds together. Rather than act as a straight sequel to the surprisingly successful Iron Man, Marvel Studios decided to overstuff the film with universe-building references (Black Widow, Nick Fury and SHIELD’s Agent Coulson all make appearances) and two-dimensional villains (played by Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke). The result is a film without any direction that serves as a Trojan horse set-up for the Avengers. Marvel/Disney 2/23 Thor: The Dark World 22. When the Thor franchise lost its director Kenneth Branagh between the first and second films, it also had to kiss goodbye to the Shakespearean theatrics that had lent it a sense of goofy charm. Directed by Game of Thrones’s Alan Taylor, The Dark World prioritises its VFX effects above all else. It’s a dull affair: Christopher Eccleston’s Malekith is (by far) Marvel’s worst villain, being a pile of prosthetics with zero personality, while Chris Hemsworth’s Thor completes one of the most unrealistic London Tube journeys in all of cinematic history. Marvel/Disney 3/23 The Incredible Hulk 21. Edward Norton’s version of the smashing Hulk often gets forgotten by Marvel fans – and for good reason. Whereas Mark Ruffalo’s bumbling interpretation of the character has a gravitational charm, Norton’s moping monster is void of any charisma. With Liv Tyler phoning in her performance as love interest, Betty Ross, the film falls emotionally flat and serves only as a by-the-numbers origins story. Marvel/Disney 4/23 Avengers: Age of Ultron 20. Just in case we’d forgotten that the Disney corporation is an all-consuming titan that owns half of Hollywood, the sequel to 2012’s Avengers decided to sneak in a little corporate synergy: when Iron Man accidentally creates a sentient robot (voiced by James Spader) who decides the earth’s only salvation is through the destruction of humanity, he announces his grim plans with accompaniment of a little citation of the classic “I’ve Got No Strings” from 1940’s Pinocchio. It’s a moment that exemplifies how Ultron feels like a cold, calculated operation from Marvel Studios. It’s merely tick list of obligations to move us on to the next chapter of the MCU. Marvel/Disney 5/23 Thor 19. Although Kenneth Branagh’s introductory outing for Marvel’s God of Thunder fared perfectly well on release, it’s suffered massively from the MCU’s dramatic sense of progression over the years. Certainly, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is a strong, well-crafted character right out of the gate, and his plot against his adoptive father (Anthony Hopkins) is delightfully heightened. Yet, it arguably took until Thor: Ragnarok for Chris Hemsworth’s hero to develop much sense of character beyond the initial “fish out of water” trope. Marvel/Disney 6/23 Doctor Strange 18. A self-centred wealthy white man ventures to a distant land and realises his superhero potential – sound familiar? That’s because Doctor Strange and Iron Man are basically the same story, except one uses magic and the other explosives. Benedict Cumberbatch’s Marveldebut impresses with kaleidoscope visuals but lacks the heart of Robert Downey Jr’s hero, leading to a film that wastes the talents of both Tilda Swinton and Mads Mikkelsen. Marvel/Disney 7/23 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 17. The first Guardians of the Galaxy was a risky Star Wars-inspired romp through space, following a bunch of a-holes who form an unlikely familiar bond. For the second film, James Gunn decided to turn everything up to 11, cramming half a dozen interweaving storylines, leading to Chris Pratt’s gaunt Star Lord getting side-lined. The sequel did, however, introduce the now beloved line “I’m Mary Poppins, y’all”, shouted by Yondu as he gracefully falls from the sky. A wonderfully comedic moment in a film that misses on another half-dozen punches. Marvel/Disney 8/23 The Avengers 16. Marvel’s first crossover film was an unparalleled cinematic event – one that arguably changed Hollywood filmmaking forever, now that every major studio seems to be attempting the “shared universe” approach to franchises. Although the MCU has refined the template since, The Avengers still established the focus on humour, character, and heart that would come to define the success story of Marvel Studios. It’s a blockbuster that feels large on all fronts, delivering thrills not only in the “Battle of New York” finale, but in the creation of a team of characters that feel perfectly balanced and complementary. Marvel/Disney 9/23 Captain America: Civil War 15. Despite Captain America: Civil War (AKA Avengers 2.5) featuring Iron Man, Black Widow, and Ant-Man (as well as introducing Black Panther and Spider-Man), the film remains first and foremost about Captain America. And that’s perhaps why the stuffed blockbuster works – were it not for a central focus, Civil War could have fallen into the trappings of other Marvel sequels in being too convoluted. The Russo Brothers also direct one of the best actions scenes in Marvel history so far, the airport scene, which looks as if it leapt straight out of a comic book. Marvel/Disney 10/23 Ant-Man and the Wasp 14. While the first Ant Man was a mirror image of its star Paul Rudd, essentially delivering a studio comedy dressed in spandex, the second found a new trick up its sleeve in the form of Evangeline Lilly’s Hope van Dyne – a smart, capable female hero who didn’t simply exist to serve as a caretaker for the male characters. Marvel/Disney 11/23 Spider-Man: Far From Home 13. What comes after the end? It’s the question that was hanging over the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since the release of Avengers: Endgame was sold to us as the ultimate, cumulative chapter in a series of 22 interconnected films. And yet, while Far From Home is distinctly mid-level Marvel fare, there’s a lot to be said for the fact it isn’t crushed under the weight of its own ambitions. It feels comfortably like the end of a chapter, the beginning of a new one, an epilogue, and a palate cleanser all at once. It also works perfectly well as a film about Spider-Man. AP 12/23 Ant-Man 12. Ant-Man should not have worked as a film. Just look at the title! Ridiculous to think a movie about a man with ant powers should work – let alone be a blockbuster success and part of the biggest cinematic universe going. Yet, despite production problems (Edgar Wright was initially meant to helm the film), Peyton Reed directs this hilarious heist film with aplomb, taking the Marvel world a little less seriously than others. Marvel/Disney 13/23 Avengers: Infinity War 11. Marvel redefined cinematic narratives once more in 2018, creating a single culmination to a decade’s worth of films. While it plays as total nonsense to anyone who’s a newcomer to the franchise (if that’s possible), it was, for fans, an unmatched emotional release. The Russo brothers faced the monumental task of making each crossover – from the Guardians of the Galaxy to the kingdom of Wakanda – work in a way that feels natural, while also ushering the MCU’s biggest villain, Thanos, into centre stage. Epic both in its sense of scale and stakes, Infinity War also stages one of the most memorable finales in blockbuster history. Marvel/Disney 14/23 Captain America: The First Avenger 10. With or without the beard, Steve Rogers aka Captain America has now become the brooding centre of the Avengers, but there was once a time when he was all about the old-fashioned heroics. Director Joe Johnston stayed true to the film’s 1940s setting in a film that embraces that pulpiness of early comic book history, as Steve punches Nazis and romances military officer Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), although her character is thankfully never relegated to the role of damsel in distress. Marvel/Disney 15/23 Captain America: The Winter Soldier 9. Despite centring on a super-powered American nationalist, the Captain America trilogy has the most consistent quality in the MCU. Its crowning moment comes with The Winter Soldier – an adrenaline-fuelled conspiracy thriller that features a spectacular twist and provokes questions regarding modern day surveillance. However, given The Russo Brothers root the rest of the movie in realism, the bombastic CGI-heavy ending is a little ridiculous. Marvel/Disney 16/23 Captain Marvel 8. Brie Larson gives a superpowered performance as Carol Danvers, the actor playing a hero that's both relatable and aspirational, strong but vulnerable. While Captain Marvel may not revolutionise the studio’s formula, the superhero's debut outing provides a platform to show off her Thanos-annihilating powers. Thanks to a smart script, it also offers some of the very best character development in the MCU. Marvel/Disney 17/23 Spider-Man: Homecoming 7. While Spider-Man’s miraculous arrival in the MCU came with Captain America: Civil War, it was not until Homecoming that we truly got to know Peter Parker. Tom Holland’s incarnation swings past Andrew Garfield’s version, thanks to the film’s lower-stakes high school story allowing for intimate moments with the character. Along with including some great comic performances (Jacob Batalon as Ned stands out), Michael Keaton’s Vulture makes for a terrifying villain, and the twist is superbly done. Marvel/Disney 18/23 Iron Man 3 6. While divisive among Marvel fans, Shane Black’s superhero outing – with the writer/director’s sharp, stinging dialogue – brings Tony Stark's story arc to an end (or what should have been its end) with humour and heart aplenty. As Robert Downey Jr’s genius, billionaire philanthropist deals with PTSD and struggles with his robotic creations, we see an actor giving his all. While Civil War and the Avengers films dragged him back into action, fingers are crossed Avengers: Endgame will give the character a similar emotionally satisfying send-off. Marvel/Disney 19/23 Avengers: Endgame 5. It’s a film that’s hard to place within the MCU canon, simply because the majority of its emotional pay-offs only work due to the groundwork laid by over a decade of filmmaking. Avengers: Endgame is less about individual storytelling and so much more about the collective experience of cinema itself. This exists to be consumed in the dark, surrounded by loved ones, as you all cheer, gasp, and cry in unison. The fan service at work may, at times, feel a little outrageous in just how bold it feels, but Endgame earns the right to indulge. This, above all, is a celebration of these movies and their impact on the world. AP 20/23 Thor: Ragnarok 4. Completely transforming the Thor franchise in a single, effortless move, director Taika Waititi injected new energy into the MCU. Ragnarok is perfectly balanced both as a standard Marvel movie, with all the right heroics and world-building intact, and as a work belonging exclusively to Waititi, filled with the humour and charm he’d previously displayed in What We Do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. By finding a way to incorporate individual voices into its massive franchise machine, Marvel found the secret to true long-term success. Marvel/Disney 21/23 Iron Man 3. Where it all started. Iron Man subverted expectations by not only reintroducing Robert Downey Jr to the world, but by showing that a relatively unknown B-character could be at the centre of a blockbuster. Other cinematic universes fail because they attempt to introduce too much (a mistake made in Iron Man 2). The first Iron Man, though, had a self-contained story that only hinted at a bigger world – a world that would eventually become a multi-billion-dollar franchise. Marvel/Disney 22/23 Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Blasting the Marvel universe into space for an adventure with a truly ragtag group of heroes, including both a talking racoon and a sentient tree-creature, Guardians of the Galaxy is arguably the biggest risk the franchise ever took. And it paid off in spectacular fashion, with director James Gunn giving the superhero genre a light coat of B-movie glee. It also transformed Parks and Recreation star Chris Pratt into the major box office draw he is today. Marvel/Disney 23/23 Black Panther 1. Although Black Panther still dutifully fulfils all the requirements of a Marvel film, providing a bridge to films both past and future plus ending in a cinematic battle filled with CGI trickery, Ryan Coogler’s achievement as a director is to use a familiar framework to tell a radical story within mainstream filmmaking. In the strife between Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, the ruler of Wakanda, and Michael B Jordan’s Killmonger, he provided a nuanced, layered commentary on colonialism and black identity. It’s a film that triumphs both within its genre, bringing new perspectives to the superhero story, and outside of it, satisfying purely as a piece of narrative drama. Marvel/Disney

“Which #Avenger am I? You won’t believe the SHOCKING result,” Ruffalo wrote before posting the video.

Ruffalo will next return as Bruce Banner/Hulk in Disney+ animated series, What If…?, but there is currently no word on when the character will next appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The actor is currently promoting Todd Haynes film Dark Waters, which will be released in the UK on 28 February.

Next up on the Marvel agenda is Black Widow, which will be released on 1 May.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is by all-accounts the current juggernaut of Hollywood. Since its inception in 2008 with The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man, the MCU has been on a steady incline as its popularity spreads across the globe and its box-offices continue to rise.

To this day, the MCU has amassed an unbelievable $22.5 billion at the box-office with the average per film being a remarkable $980.5 million. While there is a spectrum regarding the 'success' of each of the MCU films, there has yet to be a flop or a 'box-office bomb'. No MCU film has had a 'rotten' rating according to Rotten Tomatoes and even the least commercially successful film still brought in a respectable $260 million. (Worldwide box office presented in parentheses.)

23 The Incredible Hulk ($263,427,551)

via ew.com

While its MCU-integration is fairly questionable, 2008’s The Incredible Hulk is technically considered one of the first MCU film. Starring the talented Edward Norton, the film was a decent showing of Bruce Banner’s struggle with his other angrier and destructive half and helped to kick-off one of the most successful film studios of all-time.

22 Captain America: The First Avenger ($370,569,774)

Via: hollywoodreporter.com

The first Captain America film was a breath of fresh air, jumping back in time and being a period piece set during the second world war. This origin story of Cap consequently has a distinct tone compared to other MCU films, and was a strong foundational piece in the story of Cap and the burgeoning MCU.

21 Thor ($449,326,618)

via youtube.com

Another more ‘out-there’ MCU entry, the first Thor film went for a more Shakespearean feel for its Norse mythological tale. While its mix of elements of godlike royalty and rural USA didn’t always mesh well, the film still did well in establishing the Thunder God’s core plight and cast of supporting characters.

20 Ant-Man ($519,311,965)

via The Verge

Ant-Man has never been the most popular Marvel hero, however the studio did wise in narrowing the scope of his first solo film, creating an insular heist-like MCU movie based around the ever-charismatic Paul Rudd as Scott Lang. Pairing him with Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Pena helped to make Ant-Man a still-decent success.

19 Ant-Man And The Wasp ($622,674,139)

via Time

Even if it’s not by a wide margin, it’s always a good sign when a sequel does better and not worse than its predecessor. Ant-Man and the Wasp ever so slightly expanded on Scott Lang’s world, now bringing Evangeline Lilly’s Hope van Dyne (aka the Wasp) in as his superhero partner. Plus, with additions in Michelle Pfeiffer and Laurence Fishburne, this sequel suddenly had a lot going for it.

18 Iron Man ($585,174,222)

via youtube.com

The film that truly kickstarted the MCU, 2008’s Iron Man really was a pivotal moment in cinematic history. Robert Downey Jr.’s perfect casting and portrayal of the charismatic yet deeply-flawed Tony Stark set a new precedent for superheroes and comic book movies alike. Many still see this film as the best of the MCU to-date.

Related: 20 Actors Who Would've Been Great In These MCU Roles

17 Thor: The Dark World ($644,571,402)

via amazon.com

Thor’s sequel film is generally regarded as one of the weaker MCU instalments. However, as is the case here, sequels still often do better than their predecessors thanks to a growing fanbase for the franchise/characters. The Dark World still had some good action and eventually would play an important early role in the lead up to the Infinity Stone saga.

16 Doctor Strange ($677,718,395)

via twitter.com

The Sorcerer Supreme’s film was one of the significant character debuts of MCU’s Phase Three. Doctor Strange introduced the mystical side of Marvel that, in combination with the ever-great Benedict Cumberbatch, led to a strong debut for Doctor Strange. Fans have been waiting a long time now for the doctor’s second outing.

15 Iron Man 2 ($623,933,331)

Via Collider.com

Iron Man has always been one of the largest MCU box-office draws. While his second film was not altogether the best, the film still ratcheted up the action and the stakes enough to surpass the revenue of the first film. Adding another Iron Man (War Machine) and some memorable villains was enough to make Iron Man 2 a resounding success.

14 Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($714,264,267)

via youtube.com

The Winter Soldier was the MCU’s attempt at a semi-political thriller – a somewhat risky move for a studio making superhero films. However, this film ended up receiving rave reviews and is generally regarded as one of the best films of the entire MCU. With a co-starring role for Black Widow, Fury, Falcon, and the new enigmatic & dangerous Winter Soldier, Cap’s second film did remarkably well.

13 Guardians Of The Galaxy ($773,328,629)

via: denofgeek.com

Guardians of the Galaxy was the first major risk for Marvel. They banked an entire film on a pretty much unknown group of characters and set it in space where the film would have more-or-less no connections to the rest of the MCU. However, writer/director James Gunn ended up with a grand slam, instantly rocketing the Guardians family into stardom thanks to this action-packed, hilarious, and heartfelt film.

12 Thor: Ragnarok ($853,977,126)

Via TheVerge.com

After the poorly received The Dark World, Thor: Ragnarok changed up the formula of the Thor franchise drastically. Bringing on the eccentric Taika Waititi, Ragnarok ended up being a zany sci-fi adventure for the God of Thunder and his angry buddy, the Hulk, as they became trapped on a distant gladiatorial planet. The film was a massive success both commercially and with the critics.

11 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 ($863,756,051)

via: marvel.com

Guardians Vol. 2 didn’t shake things up much from the first volume, but simply carried on the adventures of this spacefaring team. Luckily, the old mantra of “don’t fix what ain’t broken” served the film well, and the Guardians' now-enormous fanbase flocked out for this bigger and better sequel.

Related: 15 Marvel Characters The MCU Completely Ruined

10 Spider-Man: Homecoming ($880,166,924)

via Moviedash

There probably isn’t a person alive who doesn’t know the name ‘Spider-Man’. The old wallcrawler is arguably Marvel’s most recognizable & profitable character and so it was bound to be big news (and big money) when Sony finally agreed to terms to allow Spidey to enter the MCU. With a high school based story, the great Michael Keaton as the Vulture, and relative newcomer Tom Holland as Peter Parker, the film was a massive success.

9 Captain Marvel ($1,128,275,794)

via BGR

It took far too long for Marvel to come out with its first female-led superhero film. Luckily, it did eventually happen with the powerful Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, at the helm. Played by Academy Award winner Brie Larson, the film was successful on every front and incredibly cracked the $1 billion box-office mark.

8 Spider-Man: Far From Home ($1,131,927,996)

via vox.com

More Spider-Man = more money. The most recent MCU film has continued the studio’s upward trend of increased box-office. Far From Home continued from where Homecoming left off with Peter’s class going on a European school trip where Spidey finds himself face-to-face with Mysterio played by Jake Gyllenhaal.

7 Captain America: Civil War ($1,153,304,495)

Via: youtube.com

Civil War was, in all respects, pretty much an Avengers film. Containing almost all of the core members (minus Thor and Hulk), this film had the massive fan draw of seeing our Marvel heroes finally go toe-to-toe with one another. If that wasn’t enough, it also introduced the likes of both Spider-Man and Black Panther into the MCU. Now, really, who wouldn’t pay to see that?

6 Iron Man 3 ($1,214,811,252)

Via PopSugar.com

The box-office increase from Iron Man 2 to 3 is quite remarkable with Iron Man’s final solo film more-or-less doubling its predecessor. While the film had some criticisms for its red herring portrayal of infamous Iron Man villain, The Mandarin, it was still an exciting film and steps above the dismal Iron Man 2.

5 Black Panther ($1,346,913,161)

via Vox

Like Captain Marvel, Black Panther was a necessary addition to the MCU and one that helped to address issues of representation within the franchise. On top of that important facet, Black Panther was, in almost every way, a fantastic film and it currently holds the highest MCU rotten tomatoes rating of 97%. This is another film whose sequel is highly anticipated.

4 Avengers: Age Of Ultron ($1,405,403,694)

via reddit.com

If there’s one thing that’s going to make big money at the box office, it’s having a film with ‘Avengers’ in its name. The first Avengers sequel maintained the momentum of the original with the same core team and writer/director, Joss Whedon, albeit with a few new additions in Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Vision, and the villainous Ultron. While it wasn’t nearly as popular with the critics, it still definitely made the big bucks.

3 The Avengers ($1,518,812,988)

via medium.com

The original MCU team-up and a pivotal moment in film history. The film that was the culmination of multiple years of set up, bringing together characters from various franchises in a way that likely hadn’t been seen since the 1930’s Universal monster films. The Avengers was a momentous success and cemented the MCU as the film-powerhouse that it is today.

2 Avengers: Infinity War ($2,048,359,754)

via vox.com

Infinity War was the first half of the gigantic climax of the first three Phases of the MCU. It was like the original Avengers on steroids with its culmination of a decade’s worth of films, pulling together characters from every MCU film while also introducing new ones like Thanos and his Black Order. This was the beginning of a film event like never before seen.

1 Avengers: Endgame ($2,797,800,564)

Via rollingstone.com

The big kahuna! Endgame – the film that broke every film record in existence. Not only was Endgame the final chapter in MCU’s first ‘lifespan’ but it was also a rollercoaster of a film with major twists, action, and ramifications for the numerous MCU heroes within. The film also provided a tangible gut punch for fans as they had to say goodbye to some of the now-most famous and beloved film heroes of all-time. Endgame truly had it all!

Next: Ranking Our 20 Favorite MCU Characters By Who We'd Want To Be

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WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal appeals court in Washington has dismissed one of several ongoing lawsuits charging that President Donald Trump has illegally profited off the presidency.

The lawsuit the court dismissed Friday was filed by Democratic members of Congress in 2017.

The court was not ruling on whether Trump violated the law. It just said that the approximately 200 members of Congress who brought the lawsuit lack the ability to sue.

The lawsuit had charged that the president violated the U.S. Constitution's emoluments clause by accepting benefits to his businesses from foreign governments without congressional approval.


At least eight people in Germany who died of encephalitis likely contracted a rare virus from shrews, a small mole-like animal, that led to the fatal brain-swelling condition often caused by a viral infection.

Researchers looked at brain tissue from 56 people who developed encephalitis between 1999 and 2019. Samples revealed that at least eight people who died of encephalitis were infected with Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), Scientific American reported, citing a study recently published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

MYSTERIOUS VIRAL PNEUMONIA OUTBREAK IN CHINA LIKELY CAUSED BY NEW VIRUS, SCIENTISTS SAY

Borna disease (BD), spread by the bicolored white-toothed shrew, is a fatal neurological disease that typically affects horses and sheep and is named after the city in eastern Germany where it first killed hundreds of horses in the 19th century. The findings published in the medical journal “confirm that the virus can infect humans and cause deadly encephalitis,” Scientific American reported.

All eight of those who were infected with BD lived in rural areas and spent a lot of time outdoors. Many of the affected people had been around cats, which are known shrew catchers, as well. Researchers suspect the patients were exposed to the pathogen when the cats presented the dead shrews to their owners. They may have also inhaled dust that contained dried shrew urine (horses and sheep typically are infected after the small mammal urinates in hay.) However, exactly how the virus was transmitted to the patients is not yet known.

As of now, there is no known treatment for the rare virus, which “triggers the host’s immune system to attack brain tissue,” as per Scientific American, and typically causes headache, fever and confusion, which is later followed by “deep coma" and death. That said, certain antiviral treatments are being considered.

The findings “provide additional material for a better understanding of the disease,” Martin Beer, head of the Institute of Diagnostic Virology at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute in Germany and co-senior author of the study, told the publication. He noted that the risk of infection in humans is “pretty low.”

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Moving forward, the researchers urged medical professionals to test for BD in patients with an “unclear cause” of encephalitis.

“BoDV-1 infection has to be considered as a potentially lethal zoonosis in endemic regions with reported spillover infections in horses and sheep. BoDV-1 infection can result in fatal encephalitis in immunocompromised and apparently healthy people. Consequently, all severe encephalitis cases of unclear cause should be tested for bornaviruses especially in endemic regions,” they wrote.

Brides can make a lot of demands when it comes to their wedding day, but this might be taking things a little too far.

When a woman started getting wedding RSVPs to someone else’s wedding in her email’s inbox, she was initially confused. Things got complicated, however, when the bride-to-be messaged her with a strange request.

Reddit user ClockworkMoose shared their story to the site’s forums. She explained that after getting several RSVPs to a stranger’s wedding, she received an email from the bride-to-be, who shared the same first name as her. The bride-to-be said ClockworkMoose would have to give up her email account.

The story continues, “I reply to that, no, and also, why? I get an email back in about 10 minutes. She says that she's got the same first name as me, and is getting married to a guy (with the same last name as ClockworkMoose). They've picked (ClockworkMoose’s real name) as their email account for RSVPs. She didn't realize I made the account, so I can either give my password to her or I can reset it and she can create a new one, whichever works for me!”

BRIDE, GROOM EXPECT GUESTS TO SIT THROUGH TIMESHARE PRESENTATION AS PART OF DESTINATION WEDDING

When the post’s author says she declined to give up her email account, the bride-to-be responded angrily and claimed that ClockworkMoose was ruining her life and wedding.

ClockworkMoose says she eventually figured out that the bride-to-be sent out her wedding invitations with the email address on them, unaware it was already taken. Unable to recall all of the invitations, the bride-to-be seemed determined to take over the email account.

After several angry emails, ClockworkMoose says she responded and offered to forward the RSVPs to the bride’s actual email address. “She sends back a nasty email full of expletives and name-calling again demanding my password or nothing,” she wrote.

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Since then, a seemingly fed up ClockworkMoose says she’s been responding to RSVPs by telling people they’re not invited to her wedding. “This has the benefit of being 100 percent true, albeit deceptive,” she wrote.

Surprisingly, this doesn’t seem to be an isolated incident. Several commenters responded by sharing similar stories that they had to deal with.

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One user wrote, “Considering that something similar to the original poster’s story has happened to me not once but thrice, it's somewhat surprising how common this attitude is.”

“I had a similar encounter with an Instagram account,” replied another user. “’FirstnameMiddlename’ and some idiot had the nerve to DM me and ask me to change mine so she could have it. At least this one was a kid/teen so I brushed her off but it baffles me when grown adults do this.”

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Another user chimed in, “I got it on Twitter once. It was some person that basically said I stole their identity by having the handle I had, and I had to give it to them. I pointed out I had been on Twitter a lot longer than them, and I wasn't changing. Has to be kids thinking they can just demand something they want.”


More detail has emerged about how a six-year-old boy who was missing for nine hours came to be found curled up asleep by the side of the M1 in roadworks.

Aadil Umair Rahim had been on a school trip when he vanished from Newport Pagnell services, near Milton Keynes, early on Friday evening.

Following a police appeal, more than 1,000 people joined officers and fire crews searching through the night for the young lad from Nottingham.

His father Umair Rahim said on Sunday that the boy was "perfectly fine" and added: "Police told me he was sleeping when they found him."

Aadil was discovered near roadworks by the northbound carriageway of the motorway at around 4.15am on Saturday.

"I have no idea if he was outside for the whole nine hours," his dad told the BBC.

His son and his classmates had been visiting museums in London and had stopped at the services for a comfort break when Aadil became separated from them.

He expressed his gratitude to the emergency services and members of the public who "sacrificed their evening to assist with the search for our son".

There were 54 searchers from four regions, three dogs and a boat also involved. The National Police Air Service was also drafted in.

It was initially believed that Aadil was hiding somewhere in the service station, but as the hours passed concerns about his wellbeing grew.

When Aadil was found, he was checked over in hospital but was found to be well, despite nine hours in the cold without a coat.

Al Goffey, of Buckinghamshire Search and Rescue, described it as "a very cold Friday night" as temperatures hovered above freezing.

The searchers were dispatched in all directions to find him.

CCTV images showed Aadil running towards a car park but the camera did not pick up which direction he then headed.

The Thames Valley Police helicopter was used during the search for Aadil, which began at around 7.15pm on Friday.

Mr Goffey said Aadil had somehow "managed to walk through some fields" and was discovered near a footbridge close to Newbolt Close.

Superintendent Amy Clements said the search had been a "challenging operation in difficult circumstances," but she was heartened by "the community response was immense".

On Friday night, Highways England confirmed the services had been closed in both directions due to an "ongoing police incident."

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A six-year-old boy who sparked a mass search when he went missing while at a motorway service station has been found overnight.

Aadil Umair Rahim disappeared at Newport Pagnell Services on the M1 motorway on Friday evening, reportedly while on a school trip from Nottingham to London.

Thames Valley Police began a search at around 7.15pm and announced Aadil had been found nine hours later, shortly after 4am on Saturday.

The force said a large number of officers were involved in the search, as well as a helicopter from the National Police Air Service.

After Aadil was found, his father Umair Rahim wrote: "My son has arrived and he is safe now. Thanks for the prayers. Shukar to Allah.

"Thank to Thames Valley Police helicopter services fire department and safe and rescue department who worked tirelessly for 9 hours and found him safe.

"There was more than a 1,000 people looking for him I'm thankful to everyone."

Thames Valley Police Superintendent Amy Clements thanked the officers and members of the public involved in the overnight search.

She said: "This was a very difficult operation involving a very young boy and we are relieved to say that Aadil has been found safe and well.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the local community, who immediately offered help in trying to find Aadil."

On Friday night, Highways England confirmed the services had been closed in both directions due to an "ongoing police incident."

Superintendent Amy Clements said: "This was a very difficult operation involving a very young boy and we are relieved to say that Aadil has been found safe and well.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the local community, who immediately offered help in trying to find Aadil.

"Also, I'd like to thank those who have co-operated with police during this time.

"This was a large operation in difficult conditions, so I'd like to also publicly thank the search and rescue teams who assisted in the search and the large number of officers involved.

"We are so very glad that he has been found and are thankful to everyone involved in assisting that."

On Friday night, Highways England confirmed the services had been closed in both directions due to an "ongoing police incident."


Dear Editor,

On behalf of the vulnerable and seemingly voiceless, opinion-less youth of Saba, most of whom have been subjected to many injustices during their course of primary education on Saba, I request immediate action by those in authority, against the functioning of the Sacred Heart School.

I am very dissatisfied with the quality of education at the Sacred Heart School and the unobtrusive, unintelligent and uninformed decisions that continue to be made by the current administration. Calls to the school board to address the below mentioned issues remain unaddressed and I have lost all confidence in the management of this school.

The Sacred Heart School has come into direct violation of multiple rights of the child as per the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The information below gives an accurate illustration of this, as well as cases and occurrences that can be found edible, if investigated. However, for fear of victimization, the sources and other sensitive information shall not be named.

Article 3 — All organizations concerned with children should work towards what is best for each child”

The Sacred Heart School has failed many students of this school by individuals pushing their personal agendas, engaging in unethical teaching practices. Many children at this school voice their concerns, worries and discontentment. In the same breath, they are swiftly dismissed. Many children are unhappy and unmotivated to actively participate in their school experience; this is currently known among the Principal and her staff at the Sacred Heart School.

Article 12 — Children have the right to say what they think should happen when adults are making decisions that affect them and to have their opinions taken into account.”

The students of the Sacred Heart School continue to be shut down and dismissed repeatedly when they try to voice their opinions on matters that concern and directly affect them. Students continue to be blamed for the shortcomings of the management and staff; the adults of this institution do not hold themselves accountable for many incidents involving students, but rather, it is the child’s and parent’s fault. The students of this school have expressed no confidence and no trust in voicing their school-related concerns.

Article 16 — Children have the tight to privacy. The law should protect them from attacks against their way of life, their good name, their family and their home.”

The Sacred Heart School has acted unprofessionally, unethically and biased on numerous occasions in creating a vulnerability among the students by exposing their personal information, be it school- or home-based, to individuals outside of the school. This has been done via popular social media platforms and also in verbal conversations.

Article 23 — Children, who have any kind of disability should receive special care and support so that they can live a full and independent life.”

The principal, acting on behalf of the Sacred Heart School, has on more than one occasion expressed that the school is unable to accommodate students with special education needs, which leaves these students without any access to primary education. To date, there is no plan to address this educational gap. There is no differentiated learning taking place at the Sacred Heart School; the different levels of cognitive abilities and learning styles are not being catered to — “one shoe must fit all”.

Article 28 — Children have the right to an education. Discipline in schools should respect children’s human dignity. Primary education should be free. Wealthier countries should help poorer countries achieve this.”

Parents have been forced to seek alternative options to the Sacred Heart School within the last academic year, two of which have been confirmed to have left the island, because of the incompetence in working on a more holistic and much-needed educational approach that includes children of different cultures, background and cognitive capacities.

Article 5 — No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

The students of this school have been subjected to physical punishment, emotional abuse and educational neglect; a direct result of the failure to lead and protect each child under charge of the management of this school. The Sacred Heart School, has directly violated the Human Rights of their students, as per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The methods of discipline in the Sacred Heart School are not all “conscious” as they preach and the principal is well aware of this. There is evidence to support claims that students are regularly physically punished (and injured), placed out of classrooms, made to stand in the direct sunshine and deprived of their break times and food. Students have been verbally lambasted in front of entire classrooms, through degrading and derogatory comments by their teachers.

The Government of the Netherlands states, “In 2010 Leiden University and TNO (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research) carried out a study into the scope and nature of child abuse. Every year an estimated 119,000 children experience some type of abuse.” There are five general types of child abuse, four of which the Sacred Heart School continues to demonstrate.

Physical abuse: all forms of physical violence;

Emotional or psychological abuse: an adult regularly berates the child, acts in a dismissive and hostile manner towards the child or intentionally scares the child;

Physical neglect: the child does not receive the care and nurturing that it needs;

Emotional or psychological neglect: continuous lack of positive attention for the child;

Ignoring the child’s need for love, warmth and security.

The UNICEF Situation Analysis of children in the Caribbean Netherlands (2019) notes the following about the common quality of education, factors that are specific to the shortcomings of the Sacred Heart School. Suitable education:

Cases of exclusion and challenges with behavior problems; to which the Sacred Heart School has no plan of action.

Participation at schools fragmented activities; not institutionalized.

Furthermore, I am not confident that the current Principal, who, in my opinion, has shown a dire lack of administrative skills, organizational skills and professional vision and knowledge, is capable of promoting the Second Educational Agenda, which covers the years 2017 up to and including 2020, one of the main objectives of this education agenda being ‘Ensuring that students in the Caribbean Netherlands receive education in 2020 that is of adequate quality.” By her inability to:

hire and retain qualified and experienced staff,

provide a structure and school climate that is conducive to learning,

be an advocate for all students of the Sacred Heart School,

motivate and inspire staff members,

be a team player,

reflect on and admit to her professional shortcomings,

communicate effectively with parents, teachers and other stakeholders,

be transparent in all her professional undertakings, I do not think this is the type of administrator that the Sacred Heart School needs and deserves at this point in time.

I believe that our children deserve better, better than what is currently being procured for the Sacred Heart School.

As previously stated, I am not confident in the board’s ability to act impartially, as they have been made privy to many issues at this school and continue to ignore them. Therefore, I am calling on the Executive Council or anyone in The Netherlands, who may read this letter, on behalf of the people of Saba, to act in the best interest of our future generations. Despite the fabricated reports that paint a different story, the truth is that our children have been and continue to be victimized, ill-treated and imperiled to a less than adequate primary education.

Enough is enough!

Concerned Saban

(Name withheld at the author’s request)

Note of the Editor:

The letter was signed by an individual. The original text has been adapted to reflect this.

Sustainable fisheries plan for Caribbean Netherlands

A means of existence under threat.

BONAIRE--A 2019 policy brief was just released, outlining requirements for sustainably managing fisheries within the Caribbean Netherlands. Using five different studies, a four-phase roadmap was created to bring local stakeholders and government legislators together to secure the future of local fish stocks.

Without action, a collapse of important fish species could be right around the corner, stated the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA).

“Maintaining healthy coral reef and fish populations is fundamental in sustaining both the traditional way of life and ever-increasing tourism throughout the Caribbean. Although fisheries within this region are better managed today than they were in previous decades, the Caribbean is still facing an overall decrease in fish stocks.

“Managing the remaining fish populations requires balancing local cultural traditions with the reality of today's environmental conditions. Therefore, this must be a collaborative effort between residents, local and national governments, NGOs and buyers.”

According to the release, to better define the challenges and needs of local fisheries five different studies were conducted on historical fisheries, market analyses, communication and awareness, social mapping and co-management. The goal was to provide insight into how these local fisheries can be improved and sustained for years to come.

Although the final outcome of two of these studies are not yet available, preliminary results have been released to support the upcoming Sustainable Fisheries Plan by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality LNV. Mac & Field consultants, in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) NL, used these to produce a policy brief to help in the creation of the Sustainable Fisheries Plan.

A common finding throughout each of these studies was that sustainable fishing practices are mostly lacking throughout the Caribbean Netherlands. This has led to an overexploitation or full exploitation of almost all commercial fish stocks.

Although the Ministry of LNV is responsible for fisheries management, implementation and regulation is not possible without the support from all stakeholders. This requires that enough resources are dedicated to this process (e.g. fisheries staff and budget within the local public entities) and open communication between stakeholders providing a feedback loop to meet the evolving needs of each island.

“Emphasising a co-management approach ensures the unique needs and desires of local stakeholders are considered in the design and implementation of a Sustainable Fisheries Management Plan. Fishermen must be included throughout each step of this process to maximise the likelihood that these regulations are implemented and complied with. Furthermore, new and non-traditional fishing activities (such as foreign fishing operations) should be considered within the management plan as well,” added DCNA.

“If left unmanaged, a collapse of certain local fish species is likely. As fish stocks continue to decrease, local and foreign demand continues to increase while coral reefs essential for healthy fisheries continue to decline. By working together, a truly Sustainable Fisheries Management Plan can and should be created and implemented ensuring fish stocks are available to local fishermen for many years to come.”


VIENNA, 23 May 2018 – The importance of nuclear security was emphasized by speakers at today’s OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) meeting in Vienna, held under Slovenia’s Chairmanship. The meeting was a follow-up to the OSCE Decision on the Update of the OSCE Principles Governing Non-proliferation, which designates the FSC as a forum for discussions on issues relating to the effective security of all nuclear materials and nuclear facilities in the OSCE area.

Ambassador Andrej Benedejčič, Chairperson of the Forum and Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the OSCE, opened the discussion by noting that two-thirds of all nuclear power plants in the world are located in the OSCE participating States. He added that OSCE participating States also account for 20 out of 30 countries with fully-fledged civilian nuclear programmes.

Ambassador Benedejčič emphasized the importance of managing radioactive sources, which must not fall into the wrong hands. "Many terrorist organizations pose a potential threat to civilian nuclear facilities and subsequently to the peaceful use of nuclear technology and its applications," he said.

Andrej Stritar, Director of the Slovenian Nuclear Administration, noted the importance of co-operation between power plant operators, the police and the military. He highlighted the lessons learned from a recent unannounced force-on-force exercise on the premises of the Krško nuclear power plant, and described the arrangements the country currently has in place for the event of an airplane crash or a cyber security attack. "Strengthening co-operation between civil and military authorities represents the main challenge," he said.

Juan Carlos Lentijo, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) highlighted some of the Agency’s activities in this field. He discussed the IAEA's central role in strengthening the nuclear security framework, including the assistance it provides in work related to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its Amendment and UN Security Council Resolution 1540. "Like the OSCE, we promote international co-operation, which we see as an effective way to bolster nuclear security globally," he said.

Elena K. Sokova, Deputy Director of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said: "The OSCE participating States own and host the lion's share of global nuclear facilities, materials and radioactive sources. Despite significant progress in strengthening nuclear security over the past 20 years, many challenges and vulnerabilities remain." She added that the OSCE participating States are at the forefront of emerging technologies that could have both negative and positive impacts on nuclear security and countering terrorism.

"The OSCE’s ongoing work to counter terrorism, secure borders, combat trafficking in arms and human beings, and protect against cybercrime are integral elements in addressing nuclear security challenges," she said. "Both the individual participating States and the Organization itself are well positioned to contribute to policy changes and work with various branches of government, industry and the professional community to enhance nuclear security."

Roger Howsley, Executive Director of the World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS), spoke of the need for personnel with responsibilities for nuclear security to be demonstrably competent. He called on OSCE participating States to support the development of comparable, certified professional training courses for nuclear security as already exist for aviation security, and to encourage the IAEA to take a lead role.

He also said that WINS has become a member of the International Gender Champions Initiative and intends to identify and overcome the barriers to women's greater participation in nuclear security. "It is a fact that we need greater diversity to address the evolving threats," he said.

Much more must be done to make radiotherapy treatment available worldwide, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a video message to mark World Cancer Day.

“We need to do much more than we ever thought it was possible,” Mr Grossi said in the message recorded as part of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) 20 Leaders Campaign to mark the day. “With radiotherapy we kill tumors, with radiotherapy we ease pain, but in one-third of low- and middle-income countries there is a lack of radiotherapy treatment. Twenty-eight countries in Africa lack a single radiotherapy unit. In these countries a cancer diagnosis is often almost as a death sentence. This must change.”

Radiotherapy is one of the most widely used therapies for cancer treatment, but access to this cost-effective treatment option is limited, or non-existent, in many parts of the world. With a growing cancer incidence worldwide, the need to make radiation medicine more widely available is pressing, particularly in the developing world.

“Take breast or cervical cancer, these are easily treatable and curable in rich, industrialized nations,” Mr Grossi said in his message, highlighting that this not the case in poor countries, where 300,000 women die of cervical cancer every year. “This is a scandal. This must stop. The IAEA is ready to make radiotherapy treatment available in more countries,” he said.

The IAEA helps countries establish nuclear and radiation medicine services, from resource mobilization to the procurement of equipment and training of medical professionals.

The Agency will mark World Cancer Day at its headquarters with an event on Friday, 7 February, focusing on the role of nuclear and radiation medicine in the fight against cervical cancer. The event, which will be livestreamed, will feature prominent medical experts and high-level panelists and take place at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna.


Q: My tenant wants to purchase the home he recently rented with the help of my real estate agent. I checked the listing agreement I signed with the agent and noticed that it states that if I sell the property to the tenant, I need to pay the agent an additional sales commission. I already pa…

The latest is in on millennials' delayed entry into homeownership, and it tells a grim story.

Millennials only own 4% of American real estate by value - a lot less than the 32% of real estate value baby boomers owned at their age, according to new Fed Reserve data examined in the Economist.

It's worth noting that there's a small gap in the median age of millennials and baby boomers in these two data points - 31 in 2019 for millennials compared to 35 for baby boomers in 1990. But, while it's likely millennials could narrow the real estate value gap within the next four years, reported Christopher Ingraham for The Washington Post, it's unlikely they'll even reach 20% of the housing market.

Crippled with student debt and financially behind due to the fallout of the recession, it's difficult for millennials to save for the skyrocketing cost of housing. First-time homebuyers will pay 39% more than first-time homebuyers did nearly 40 years ago.

But there's more to millennials' slow path to homeownership than rising costs and saving difficulties.

A shortage of starter homes and a surplus of boomer homes

America is facing a shortage of starter homes. While millennials are expected to drive the housing market in 2020, most newly constructed homes in 2019 were devoted to "upper-tier housing" (homes costing at least $500,000), according to a Realtor.com report.

It doesn't help that many of the starter homes that are available are being bought up by real-estate investors with all-cash offers.

That's not to say there's an outright shortage of homes available: As baby boomers age, nine million homes across the US are expected to hit the market between 2017 and 2027, Laura Kusisto wrote for The Wall Street Journal. However, millennials just aren't interested in these homes.

That disinterest can be tied to a variety of factors. For one, baby boomers' suburban houses are located in unappealing locations to younger generations, who prefer metro areas. They're also outdated and oversized for millennials, who prefer smaller homes with more modern designs. It makes sense, then, that some millennials prefer to rent instead of buying or would rather wait for the right home to appear.

Ultimately, millennials either can't yet afford the investment of homeownership or don't think it's an investment worth making.


San Francisco: Apple has launched Swift Playgrounds app for Mac as part of company’s Catalyst app initiative, designed to help bridge the software gap between its macOS and iOS platforms.

The app requires no coding knowledge to use and is ideal for students who are just starting out with coding.

“Swift Playgrounds is a revolutionary app for iPad and Mac that makes learning Swift interactive and fun. It requires no coding knowledge, so it’s perfect for students just starting out. Solve puzzles to master the basics using Swift — a powerful programming language created by Apple and used by the pros to build today’s most popular apps,” the company said in a statement.

Swift Playgrounds is built around a collection of Apple-created lessons, using puzzles and an interactive 3D world.

“Now you can make robots do incredible things with code you write yourself. Learn to program-connected devices like the Sphero SPRK+, LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, and drones by Parrot, and watch them come alive right before your eyes,” the company added.

Swift Playgrounds for Mac is available from the Mac App Store and it is a free download.

Apple has today released Swift Playgrounds for the Mac. This marks the first time the app has made the jump from iPad to Apple’s desktop platform.

The app is based on its iPad counterpart and is built using Catalyst. That doesn’t mean that users should expect the app to look and feel like a straight port, though. Apple says that there is plenty in there to make sure this is a real Mac app.

Swift Playgrounds for Mac is a truly native macOS app with great performance, built using the powerful Mac Catalyst technology in macOS Catalina. This brings many of the same features users love from Swift Playgrounds on iPad, to the Mac. In addition, the Mac app adds unique features and user experiences that take advantage of diverse screen sizes and physical keyboard.

The app itself offers the same proposition as the Mac version. People won’t need any coding knowledge in order to try working with Swift Playgrounds, with the app walking them through some simple tasks and guides as they learn.

Swift Playgrounds is a revolutionary app for Mac and iPad that makes it fun to learn and experiment with code. You solve interactive puzzles in the guided “Learn to Code” lessons to master the basics of coding, or experiment with a wide range of challenges that let you explore many unique coding experiences. Swift Playgrounds requires no coding knowledge, so it’s perfect for students just starting out, from twelve to one-hundred-and-twelve. The whole time you are learning Swift, a powerful programming language created by Apple and used by professionals to build many of today’s most popular apps. Code you write works seamlessly as you move between Mac and iPad.

Swift Playgrounds has been hugely popular on the iPad and people have been using it to learn how to code, just as Apple had intended. The arrival of a Mac version opens up additional possibilities for those wanting to learn. Not least for those who simply don’t have an iPad to install Swift Playgrounds onto.

You can download Swift Playgrounds now, for free, from the Mac App Store. You’ll need macOS Catalina 10.15.3 to run it.

(Download: Swift Playgrounds for Mac on the App Store)

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Local budget carrier Scoot will suspend all flights between Singapore and mainland China from Feb 8, amid the growing severity of the Wuhan virus outbreak.

Scoot had said early on Friday (Jan 31) that it would suspend flights to 11 cities and reduce flights to eight other cities, but had stepped up its precautionary measures in line with those announced by the Government later in the day.

Measures that the authorities announced to limit the spread of the Wuhan virus include the barring of all travellers arriving from mainland China who had been there in the past 14 days from entry or transit in Singapore.

Scoot currently operates 100 weekly flights to 18 points in China, excluding Wuhan.

It said that before Feb 8, some flights to China, such as those to Guangzhou and Qingdao, will be operating on reduced frequencies before the suspension kicks in till late March.

Between Feb 2 and Feb 7, the flights operating to and from China will have limited in-flight services with no sales of food and beverage items.

All customers will be provided with a food pack, including water.

Customers booked on flights affected by the schedule change will receive a refund, said Scoot.

The operator added: "Scoot will continue to closely monitor the coronavirus situation as the health and safety of our passengers and employees are our highest priority.

"For now, Scoot flights between Singapore and all mainland China destinations after the above-stated suspension period will continue to operate as scheduled."

Scoot is a member of the Singapore Airlines Group, which also includes Singapore Airlines and SilkAir.

The two latter carriers also announced earlier on Friday that it will reduce the number of flights to mainland China in February, subject to regulatory approvals.

In a Facebook post on Friday, SIA said that the airline as well as SilkAir would be cancelling some flights between Singapore and cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Chengdu and Chongqing.

[Travel Advisory] SINGAPORE AIRLINES AND SILKAIR FLIGHTS TO MAINLAND CHINA Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will further... Posted by Singapore Airlines on Thursday, 30 January 2020

Affected customers will be notified and rebooked on other flights, SIA said.

SIA currently operates 56 weekly flights to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, while SilkAir operates 36 weekly flights to Chengdu, Chongqing, Shenzhen and Xiamen.

For the latest updates on the Wuhan virus, visit here.

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its regional wing SilkAir will suspend some flights to China after fears over the novel coronavirus outbreak affected demand "significantly", Singapore's national carrier said on Monday (Feb 10).

"Minimum connectivity" to several key cities will be maintained, SIA said.

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The move comes after demand for air travel between Singapore and China declined significantly as a result of the outbreak, said SIA on its website.

As a result, services to some Chinese destinations will be "temporarily suspended until the situation improves", it added.

Several SIA flights between Singapore and Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou will be suspended between Feb 4 and Mar 29.

Some SilkAir flights between Singapore and Shenzhen, Xiamen, Chengdu and Chongqing will be halted during that period.

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SIA said that the group will maintain some connectivity to key cities.

In response to queries, SIA told CNA that following the reduced frequencies, it will operate seven flights each to Beijing and Shanghai weekly, thrice a week to Guangzhou and once a week to Chongqing.

"There are still many Singaporeans working and living in China now, many of whom will still require connectivity between Singapore and China," said SIA.

"As the national carrier, we will continue to maintain minimum connectivity to the key cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing for now despite the reduced demand," added SIA.

SIA had said on Jan 31 said it would reduce capacity on some of its routes to China in February due to the growing scale of the coronavirus epidemic.

SIA's low-cost carrier Scoot also suspended flights to 11 Chinese cities from early February until the end of March and reduced frequencies to eight other Chinese destinations.

Singapore on Friday raised the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level to Orange, after several cases of coronavirus without travel history to mainland China or links to previous cases.

The virus has infected 43 people in Singapore as of Sunday, six of whom have been discharged.

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the Wuhan virus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram


Fort Bend County Health & Human Services reports 7 additional cases of COVID-19 in Fort Bend County residents, bringing the county’s total to 19.

The 7 new cases are:

A woman in her 40s with international travel who has moderate symptoms and is in isolation at home

A woman in her 50s with domestic travel to a region with widespread local disease. She has moderate symptoms and is in isolation at home

A man in his 40s with domestic travel and mild to moderate symptoms, He is in isolation at home

A minor child with domestic travel and mild symptoms who is in isolation at home

A man in his 40s with domestic travel and moderate symptoms who is in isolation at home

A woman in her 30s with domestic travel and moderate symptoms who is in isolation at home.

A man in his 30s with moderate symptoms who is recovering in isolation at home.

“Community spread is occurring thoughout the Houston region. Community members need to follow the social distancing ordinances issued by local, regional, and state leaders seriously. They are in place to help keep our most vulnerable residents safe and to minimize the impact on our healthcare system,” said Dr. Minter, Fort Bend County Health & Human Services Director and Local Health Authority. “If you are not sick, you do not need to be tested. If you are sick and your symptoms are mild, please stay home and manage your systems as if you would for the flu.”

The public can help:

Do not go to the emergency room unless essential.Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs. If you have symptoms like cough, fever, or other respiratory problems, contact your regular doctor first. If you are in good health and have mild illness, stay home, and take care of yourself like you would for the flu. If symptoms worsen, call your doctor. Your doctor will help make the decision whether you should get tested for COVID-19

Practice healthy hygiene habits every day to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, such as: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your coughs and sneezes. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. Remember to wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe Stay informed. Information is changing frequently. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@FortBendHealth) and check our website for regular updates (fbchealth.org/ncov)

Privacy protection laws only permit the release of limited patient information. The health department is unable to release any additional patient information.

###

Monroe County Health Department received notification through the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS) of our first confirmed case of COVID-19 by positive lab test.

The individual is a male in his 50s, who has had no known exposure via travel or contact with a confirmed case. The individual is isolating at home and will continue to do so based on WI Department of Health Services guidelines.

A Monroe County public health nurse has spoken with the individual. The health department is actively identifying contacts that the individual may have had and will follow up with anyone who may have been exposed to provide appropriate guidance.

“There is no need for the public to panic,” said Sharon Nelson, Director/Health Officer. “We have been preparing for a case of COVID-19 in Monroe County.”

Monroe County Health Department wants everyone to know that you do not need a test to know what to do and to take the following steps to stop the spread of COVID-19:

? Stay home. Avoid social gatherings with people of all ages (including playdates and sleepovers, parties, large family dinners, visitors in your home, non-essential workers in your house);

? Practice good hygiene

o Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

o Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.

o Avoid touching your face

? If you are having symptoms-fever, cough, difficulty breathing-call your doctor before going in.

For more information, contact Monroe County Health Department at 608-269-8666 or look to reliable sources such as:

? Monroe County’s COVID-19 website: https://healthymonroeco.org/covid-19

? WI DHS COVID-19: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/covid-19.htm

? CDC COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html


Goats in a ghost town - animals take over deserted Welsh resort

A goat is seen in Llandudno as the spread of coronavirus continues Llandudno, Wales, UK, March 31, 2020. [Reuters]

A herd of Kashmir goats have invaded a Welsh seaside resort after the coronavirus lockdown left the streets deserted.The animals, who normally roam free on a nearby headland jutting out into the Irish Sea, have instead wandered into Llandudno where they have spent the past three days feasting on garden hedges and flowers. Like other countries affected by the global coronavirus crisis, the United Kingdom has imposed strict social distancing measures including shop and school closures, and the authorities are asking everyone to stay at home except for essential travel. With the streets of Llandudno unnaturally quiet, the goats have been free to wander the streets undisturbed. Town councillor Carol Marubbi said the goats didn’t normally come into town unless the weather was awful, but on this occasion she said they probably realized something unusual was going on because there were so few people around. “I think they’re probably feeling a bit lonely and they have come down to have a look around,” she told Reuters by telephone. Kashmir goats have lived on the Great Orme promontory near Llandudno since the days of Queen Victoria, when the species became popular in Britain due to a fashion for shawls made from their soft cashmere wool.

For More of This and Other Stories, Grab Your Copy of the Standard Newspaper. Read Now »

Marubbi said the herd of about 150 goats, some of whom had kids in February, were a well-known local attraction and most residents did not mind having their hedges nibbled by them. “I’m a big fan,” she said. “I love them because they are characters.” With millions of people stuck at home sharing light-hearted content online to alleviate the tedium of the lockdown, images and video of the goats roving around the streets were a hit on social media, with #goats and #Llandudno trending on Twitter. “Just love this. Looks like they are definitely in charge,” wrote Welsh Twitter user Sue Foster, a former primary school heart-ache. “Who we gonna call? Goat busters.”

Are you suspecting that you have coronavirus? Before you rush to the hospital, do this quick easy self-assessment test. #StayHome #WashYourHands HERE.

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The ramvolution has begun.

A pack of wild goats is horning in on a tiny human community in Wales where the streets have been largely deserted due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The seaside resort town of Llandudno is typically rammed with tourists each summer, but the COVID-19 outbreak has forced everyone indoors and left plenty of room for visitors of another kind.

READ MORE: Coronavirus clears beach for endangered sea turtle hatchlings in Brazil

Locals have posted several photos and videos online of roughly a dozen wild Kashmiri mountain goats wandering around downtown Llandudno, where they could be seen hopping on benches and capering around on the pavement over several days.

A goat is seen in Llandudno as the spread of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, continues, Llandudno, Wales, Britain, March 31, 2020. REUTERS/Carl Recine

One video shows the goats treating a retaining wall like a cliff face, standing precariously on the edge while munching on the scruffy grass growing between the stones.

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Another video shows the goats wandering through a deserted downtown roundabout intersection.

0:35 Mountain goats spotted on the streets of Llandudno, Wales Mountain goats spotted on the streets of Llandudno, Wales

“They are curious, goats are,” town Coun. Carol Marubbi told the BBC. “I think they are wondering what’s going on like everybody else.”

[ Sign up for our Health IQ newsletter for the latest coronavirus updates ]

Local reporter and self-described “goat correspondent” Andrew Stuart has been breathlessly covering the story since Saturday through various Twitter yarns threads.

“They’re still here,” he tweeted along with a photo on Tuesday. “They live here now I think.”

I think I am now the man who stares at goats (in the middle of the road) pic.twitter.com/Ptzh0zY5UC — Andrew Stuart (@AndrewStuart) March 30, 2020

“I, for one, welcome our new goat overlords,” Stuart wrote on Monday, in a reference to The Simpsons.

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They run Llandudno now and we just have to accept that as fact. Shenkin must be giving them tips from the Royal Welsh. pic.twitter.com/RaABUtWrDa — Andrew Stuart (@AndrewStuart) March 30, 2020

The goats typically live on the nearby Great Orme reserve, but they have been known to seek shelter in town during bad weather, Marubbi told the Evening Standard.

The goats are said to have been introduced to the area back in 1907 after Queen Victoria received them as a gift from the Shah of Persia.

Marubbi says the animals are well-regarded in the community, and there are no plans to call in a goatbuster.

In fact, when it comes to distractions from COVID-19, this one might be the GOAT (greatest of all time) for residents of Llandudno.

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“There isn’t anyone else around,” Marubbi said. “So they probably decided they may as well take over.”

—

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.

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news, local-news, Ken little, fruit and vegetable, port macquarie, business

Straight-talking. Big-hearted. Decent. Those are some of the words used by others to describe Ken Little. He is best known for owning a long-standing fruit and vegetable store in Port Macquarie. But he is also widely respected for the huge amount of community work he does. Recently he was named our senior citizen of the year. But how much do you really know about him? What formed him and what makes him tick? Ken Little grew up on a farm at Ben Lomond near Glen Innes. He was the youngest child of 13. When he was born his father Benjamin was 67-years-old, his mother Ada only 38. His father had been left a widow with eight children with a farm to manage when his first wife died of cancer in the early 1940s. Ken's mother (who had two children of her own) was hired to work on the farm, manage the house and look after the younger children. Before long the two had fallen in love and had three more children, Jan, Benjamin and little Kenny. It was a simple childhood. On the farm he learnt the value of hard work. "From an early age before I went to school I would milk the cows, ride or walk 5km to school," he recalls. "Then after school I would round the cows up and separate the calves from their mothers so there would be milk for the next day. I also herded sheep." The family moved to Port Macquarie when Mr Little was 10. He attended Port Primary School and Port Macquarie High School. By his own admission he was an "average student". But what he lacked academically he made up with other skills. "I was always really active and independent, I played a lot of sport, fished a lot, played football," he said. The family didn't have a lot of money. His parents were on the old age pension. "All the money I got I had earned from the time I was eight or nine," Mr Little said. "My parents never gave me anything because they couldn't afford to." When he was not playing sport or surfing he spent his weekends picking fruit to earn money. Towards the end of school he also began to notice girls. Mr Little met his wife Judy at the Kempsey showground when he was only 17. "I liked her straight away, she smiled a lot, we got on," he said. He acknowledges it was easier to meet a partner back then but they were fortunate to find each other. When he left school he headed for Sydney like most young people. He had hoped to be a property evaluator but it didn't work out. He didn't like the city and missed the beach too much. Before long he was back in Port Macquarie, working in the fruit and veg department at Woolworths. Ironically, it was with one of his main competitors that his passion for the trade started. He set up Ken Little's Fruit and Veg in 1983. The small business originally run out of the Colonial Arcade. Disaster struck when Port Central was built. The road closures in Hay Street, loss of parking and heavy vehicle use in the area proved disastrous. "We lost 85 per cent of our trade in a year," he said. "I was stunned and devastated. I wondered if I could keep the business going and rebuild." The business almost went bust and Judy went back to nursing to keep the family afloat. Difficult decisions were made but eventually they moved the business to Munster Street in 1996. The business started thriving but then in 2007 disaster hit again when a deliberately lit fire ripped through the store. "Again I was thinking can I rebuild?" he said. "After lots of soul searching we decided to keep the business going for ourselves as we had put so much into it over the years, our staff and loyal customers," he said. "We were able to gradually build the business up again and pay our bills." The business now employs 45 staff and focuses on "giving customers what they want". His marriage to Judy has sustained him during difficult times. "Like any marriage we have our ups and downs," he said. "But we enjoy each other's company and we end up working things out. "Sometimes you just need time and patience. We are different in a lot of ways, she is very artistic, and I love to watch and play sport. We don't try and change each other and the differences work." He is proud but humble about his children's achievements. All have followed their passions. Eldest son Nigel holds a PhD in history and works for the Office of National Intelligence in Canberra. His second son Daniel is a talented former photographer. He is Ken's right hand man in the store. Daughter Naomi has travelled the world and currently lives in Denmark with her daughter working in marketing and design for an IT company. "Do you know what the cloud is?" he asks The Port News quizzically. Life can be difficult so how has Ken Little survived with such a sunny attitude? "I've had a good life," he said. "I try to enjoy all the simple things in life, I feel as though I live in paradise, I don't take anything or anyone for granted." He holds fast to some principles his father taught him: "Do unto others as you do unto yourself and if you have nothing nice to say about someone say nothing." He is involved in a range of sporting and community groups, he has been a mentor, coach, fundraiser. What advice does he give the many young people he encounters? "Try and stay positive," he said. "When you fall down pick yourself up, remember every problem has a solution no matter how bad it is. "Be a doer not a gonna, there are a lot of people in this world who make a loud noise that they are going to do this and going to do that but do nothing." The Port News series is called In My Life. We meet people of the Hastings and ask them what they have learnt in their lives. If you have a suggestion for the series email carla.mascarenhas@portnews.com.au While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE. If you value local journalism, continue to support us and consider taking out a subscription. CLICK HERE for a 30-day free trial.

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news, local-news,

Since the age of 10 Sam Willis knew he wanted to be a paramedic but he never imagined he would become a successful lecturer, author, editor teaching paramedicine in two countries. The English born and raised senior lecturer has now been in Port Macquarie over a year and said he loves what he does. "When I was about 10 I witnessed a car crash and watching the paramedics work I knew that was what I wanted to do when I grew up," Sam said. "The paramedics I saw that day instinctively knew what to do and I thought they had all the answers to help the people who were hurt and I knew then I wanted to do the same thing when I got older. "It hasn't always been an easy path to get where I wanted to go but I believe with passion and determination then you can get there. "When I started as a paramedic in England I never thought I would go on to teach at universities in two countries or be an author but that is my life." Mr Willis is a senior lecturer in paramedicine at Charles Sturt University based in Port macquarie, Mr Willis has a masters degree and is currently working towards a PhD in paramedicine, and said growing up his life wasn't easy but with a goal of where he wanted to end up his passion and drive got him there. "I didn't get the marks at school to go and study what I wanted to right away so I had to go to college before going to university," he said. "It wasn't easy and I had to make a lot of sacrifices but knowing what I wanted made it worth it. In the beginning I worked as an ambulance dispatcher and i didn't get into paramedicine the first time so it was challenging. "I did question what I wanted and if it really was what I wanted but deep down I knew it was." As a lecturer Mr Willis said he does sympathise with students who are struggling and prides himself on trying to help them. "When I was studying the course was challenging which did make it hard at times but I am a big believer in even if something is hard you should go for it." Mr Willis is the co-author and a contributor to a second edition of Fundamentals of Paramedic Practice, an accessible and comprehensive introduction to paramedic science and pre-hospital care, providing expert and up-to-date guidance on the essential theories and real-world practice of this dynamic area of emergency medicine. "The book came about because there aren't a lot of new books coming about about paramedicine and I wanted to change that. "The book has a large number of fantastic contributors who have ensured the book is relevant and up to date." The book is being launch at Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie on March 10. Please register to attend here While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE. If you value local journalism, continue to support us and consider taking out a subscription. CLICK HERE for a 30-day free trial.

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