The Virtual Grand National takes place today and Express Sport is on hand with all the live stream information, including how to watch the race for free.

The Virtual Grand National takes place this weekend instead of the actual race - but who is favourite to win?

The Virtual Grand National replaces the real-life National this afternoon with ITV providing life coverage of a lifelike simulation to substitute for the cancelled regular race. Express Sport brings you live updates with an animated Tiger Roll the favourite for victory.

The Virtual Grand National takes placed this evening in the absence of the real race at Aintree.

Potters Corner triumphed at the Virtual Grand National with an explosive finish in a boost to the NHS.

Profits of £2.6million have been donated to NHS Charities Together after Saturday's Virtual Grand National.

Peter Whittingham is fighting for his life in hospital, the South Wales Police have confirmed.

Peter Whittingham has died following a head injury from an accidental fall.

MELANIA TRUMP, 50, has been the US First Lady since 2017. A style expert has explained how she ensures she stands out when she steps out with Donald Trump, 73.

THE QUEEN has one of the most extensive jewellery collections in the world, and is particularly noted for her tiaras. The Belgian Sapphire is a particular favourite of Her Majesty's - and it has a scandalous former royal owner.

KATE MIDDLETON, 38, wowed fans by appearing in a video with a new mother and midwives. The Duchess of Cambridge did so ahead of UK's Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week.

The relationship between health and poverty is reasonably well known; one can exacerbate and contribute to the other in a vicious cycle.

This update, as well as including a few health stats updates, provides further information on noncommunicable diseases (which cause some two-thirds of all deaths each year) and more details on the relationship with poverty.

Read full article: Global Health Overview

It has long been known that advertisers will “photoshop” (slang for editing photos to touch up or airbrush out imperfections) photos to make the subject more attractive. But many have pointed out that this subtle manipulation often goes too far. Young people, girls in particular, are bombarded with images of how they are supposed to look, contributing to many social and health problems as a result.

The American National Advertising Division (the US advertising industry’s self-regulating watchdog) for example, recently moved to ban the misleading use of photoshopping and enhanced post-production in cosmetics adverts as it could be too misleading. In the UK some adverts have been banned because the effects of airbrushing has resulted in very misleading cosmetic adverts. France has even considered legislation to explicitly identify retouched images.

Some will claim it is up to parents to teach their children how to recognize these things, but parents cannot often win against an army of professional psychologists, marketers and others all focused on pushing their own images onto children, when studies also say that children are not old enough tell the difference between commercial and other content.

This page has been updated to add a section about this issue with further links, videos and examples.

Read full article: Media and Advertising

Flexibility mechanisms were defined in the Kyoto Protocol as different ways to achieve emissions reduction as part of the effort to address climate change issues. These fall into the following categories: Emissions Trading, Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism.

However, these have been highly controversial as they were mainly included on strong US insistence and to keep the US in the treaty (even though the US eventually pulled out). Some of the mechanisms face criticism for not actually leading to a reduction in emissions, for example.

The updates to this article includes a couple of videos summarizing some concerns about cap and trade.

Image ©: Centre for Science and Environment

Read full article: Climate Change Flexibility Mechanisms

19% of the world’s reptiles are estimated to be threatened with extinction according to a study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Zoological Society of London. Reptiles include snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises. But some species are at more risk than others. For example, freshwater turtles alone are at a 50% risk of extinction. Reasons vary, but include the usual suspects such as climate change and loss of habitat.

A recent study also estimated that some 100 million sharks are being killed each year — an unsustainable rate, given how long some species take to mature and reproduce. Much of the demand is driven by Chinese rising affluence and demand for shark fin soup in the mistaken belief it has various health benefits.

This small update to the biodiversity loss page has further details.

Read full article: Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions

For a while now many European governments have resorted to austerity measures to deal with the recession and financial crises affecting them. This may have either been by choice, or pressured from the outside.

However, as has been warned countless times, excessive austerity rarely works. Furthermore, focusing on debts and deficits appears to miss the point that the economic problems were caused by a collapse in markets and banking sector in particular, resulting in less revenues for governments; not necessarily an excessive overspend by governments.

Some of the policies being forced through even when evidence appears to show they do not work lead many to think that austerity and structural adjustment policies are being ideologically pushed for — just as they were on most of the developing countries for almost 2 decades with devastating results.

Indeed, in the US, investigations have found billionaires pouring hundreds of millions of dollars on campaigns to fix the debt making it appear as a grassroots movement. Fixing the debt of course happens to leave the elite less affected, so it works to their advantage to push for something like that.

Without more focus on appropriate economic growth, there is a real risk in going backwards, and even undermining democracy.

The global financial crisis page on this web site has been updated with new sections and videos on this issue.

Read full article: Global Financial Crisis

At the start of June 2013, a large number of documents detailing surveillance by intelligence agencies such as the US’s NSA and UK’s GCHQ started to be revealed, based on information supplied by NSA whistle blower, Edward Snowden.

These leaks revealed a massive surveillance program that included interception of email and other Internet communications and phone call tapping. Some of it appears illegal, while other revelations show the US spying on friendly nations during various international summits.

Unsurprisingly, there has been a lot of furor. While some countries are no doubt using this to win some diplomatic points, there has been an increase in tension with the US and other regions around the world.

Much of the US surveillance programs came from the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the US in 2001. Concerns about a crackdown on civil rights in the wake of the so-called war on terror have been expressed for a long time, and these revelations seem to be confirming some of those fears.

Given the widespread collection of information, apparently from central servers of major Internet companies and from other core servers that form part of the Internet backbone, activities of millions (if not billions) of citizens have been caught up in a dragnet style surveillance problem called PRISM, even when the communication has nothing to do with terrorism.

What impacts would such secretive mass surveillance have on democracy?

Read full article: Surveillance State: NSA Spying and more

It is well known that tobacco smoking kills. But it also exacerbates poverty, contributes to world hunger by diverting prime land away from food production, damages the environment and reduces economic productivity. Second hand smoking also affects other people’s lives. Despite many attempts to prevent it, a global tobacco control treaty became international law in 2005.

However, challenges still remain as tobacco companies try to hit back, for example, by targeting developing nations, increasing advertising at children and women, attempting to undermine global treaties and influence trade talks, etc.

This update includes updated stats, as well as more information on the above issues.

Read full article: Tobacco

Steven Gerrard is very frustrated with Rangers’ poor performance against Hearts.

David Moyes came close to joining Celtic on two occasions and has opens up on his quest to return to management.

ELVIS PRESLEY's Sunday Meatloaf can be made at home and now Graceland chef's has shown fans how from the mansion's kitchen in a new video.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 6 may go ahead without Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow and fans are having none of it.

QUEEN and Adam Lambert's tour has already been postponed until next year but Brian May has concerns for performing in a post-pandemic world.

TOM JONES had a huge number of famous friends - but did that include the late singer Little Richard?

MALDIVES holidays are on the bucket list of so many Britons thanks to the picture postcard-worthy scenery and year-round sun. Kandima Maldives is one of many hotels in the Indian Ocean nation, so what makes it stand out? This writer headed to the resort to find out.

HOWEVER idyllic the destination, some things are always the same. You're going to get sunburnt - even if you lather on the factor 50. At one point you will long for a British cup of tea. And that scavenging local wildlife - such as the obligatory one-eyed cat - are always a reliable constant.

RANGERS play Partick Thistle in the Scottish Premiership tonight - but can you watch it live?

COSTA RICA is a name to send a chill down any Scotsman’s spine. For me it’s up there with Peru when I think of football nightmares on a world stage.

SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAW - Everything you need to know ahead of the draw in including date, time, TV channel and live stream.

Whether you’re looking for Islands, nightlife or cultural experiences, those best things to do in Thailand have you covered. Thailand is one of the most popular backpacker destinations in the world. This special place has...

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Virgin Island is the best place for backpackers who love to explore nature. If you’re the one who’s searching for the best things to do in US Virgin Islands? Then dont worry; in this post,...

The post Best things to do in US Virgin Islands appeared first on Geeky Traveller.

Are you searching for the best things to do in Gili Islands? Then you have come to the right place. In this post, you can check out Amazing things to do in Gili Island, Indonesia....

The post 9 Best things to do in Gili Islands appeared first on Geeky Traveller.

THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY has seen major losses in profit due to the coronavirus pandemic, with many companies seeing job losses and uncertain futures. But this is how the airline industry may recover after the pandemic.

THE GOVERNMENT is to enforce a new rule which will see all travellers arriving into the UK being instructed to go into a 14-day quarantine period. It is not yet known how this rule will be enforced, or for how long, but it has the potential to change the way we experience holidays.

Wayne Rooney is set to start for Derby against Manchester United tonight in their FA Cup clash.

Carlton Cole has revealed he completed an England training session with an erection.

VIRGIN Media and O2 are to merge to create a £31billion media and telecoms giant, their parent firms have announced. Liberty Global and Telefonica - the owners of Virgin Media and O2 respectively - had confirmed on Monday that they were in discussions over a possible combination.

Tottenham have been tipped to sign Ryan Fraser when his contract with Bournemouth ends.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are both waiting for the signal to resume action.

There is an ongoing debate to crown a member of the 'Big Three' as the greatest of all time.

Rafael Nadal has enjoyed a historic career and he is not done yet.

Todd Martin coached Novak Djokovic in his formative years on the ATP Tour and knows what makes him special.

Ivan Lendl has weighed in on the ongoing GOAT debate.

Stoke striker Tyrese Campbell has garnered interest from a swathe of British clubs.

MICHAEL JACKSON'S death shocked many people - but what happened to his home, the Neverland ranch?

MUSIC rounds are some of the funniest and most tricky pub quiz sections to master - here are our favourite quiz questions.

FINISH THE LYRICS is one of the most fun rounds in a pub quiz - here is our pick of the best pub quiz questions to include.

POP CULTURE covers a huge range of topics - so here are some of the best pop culture questions for your online pub quiz.

ELVIS PRESLEY's Sunday Meatloaf can be made at home and now Graceland chef's has shown fans how from the mansion's kitchen in a new video.

QUEEN and Adam Lambert's tour has already been postponed until next year but Brian May has concerns for performing in a post-pandemic world.