Simon Collins
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Sports reporter with Derry Journal. Proud dad. Irish football and boxing fan. Family first, football a close second 😁 Views are my own.
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Articles by Simon Collins
James McClean: I will decide when I retire; nobody else will make that decision for me
James McClean has described Derry City Football Club's attempts to terminate his contract as 'incomprehensible' and warned it sets a 'dangerous precedent' for League of Ireland players. The PFAI issued a statement on behalf of the Ireland centurion on Tuesday morning to clarify the current impasse with his hometown club who, they claim, have set about invoking Section 18 of the Standard Players Contract.
IN PICTURES: Derry City fans in top form as Candy Stripes move into fourth
Derry City fans pictured in the Mark Farren Stand before Friday's league clash with Galway United. Derry City fans were in buoyant mood going into the international break as the club’s rise under interim boss Mark Connolly continued with a 1-0 victory over Galway United at Brandywell. The Monaghan man has guided the team to fourth spot on 41 points with this latest win – a fifth in all competitions – as Derry promise to salvage some pride from a difficult year.
Broadly neutralizing antibodies in adult males living with HIV undergoing analytical treatment interruption: secondary and exploratory outcomes of the phase II randomized controlled RIO trial
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Abstract RIO is an ongoing phase 2 double-blind randomized placebo-controlled human trial. Sixty-eight adult men living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), who were predominantly white and initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) during primary or early-stage infection, underwent treatment interruption and were randomly assigned to a group receiving one or two doses of two long-acting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) 3BNC117-LS and 10-1074-LS (arm A, n = 34) or saline (arm B, n = 34).
By Marcílio J. Fumagalli, Anna Kaczynska, Ágata Lopes-Ribeiro, Brianna Hernandez, Christy Lavine, Sebastián Espinosa, Helen Brown, Emanuela Falaschetti, Tamara Elliott, Ming J. Lee, Julie M. Fox, Sarah Pett, Amanda Clarke, Rebecca Sutherland, Marta Boffito, Chloe Orkin, Simon Collins Verified, Panagiota Zacharopoulou, Nicola Robison, Cíntia Bittar, Thiago Oliveira, Anna Gazumyan, Michael S. Seaman, John Frater, Marina Caskey, Sarah Fidler, Michel C. Nussenzweig, Marius Allombert, Mariângela de Oliveira Silva, Hanna Box, Louise-Rae Cherrill, Alison Uriel, Ole Sogaard, Sabine Kinloch-Loes, Mila Jankovic
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Mortgage terms, 10, 15, 20 or 30 years and why?
Always! 30 and you can always pay extra to pay off sooner. You can’t pay less if you do shorter periods unless you refinance. $$ So always do 30 and if you want to pay off in 15 you have the option. just amortize it’s over 15 years and pay that amount. this way you are hedging yourself a little against things that might happen if you ever can’t afford that higher 15 year payment. I really can’t see any argument to do it over a shorter period especially at these low rates.
FCA launches Investment Advice Assessment Tool
United KingdomGlobal United KingdomGlobal United KingdomGlobal The FCA has launched its Investment Advice Assessment Tool (“IAAT”), which sets the standards firms should apply when assessing the suitability of its advice, disclosures to consumers and compliance with Principle 12 and the Consumer Duty The FCA has introduced the IAAT, an Excel-based framework designed to assist firms in evaluating the suitability of their advice[1], the adequacy of client disclosures, and compliance with...
River Mole E. Coli Levels: Our first look at Bacterial Risks Across the Catchment
Summary: In an ambitious effort to assess water quality across the River Mole catchment, teams from River Mole River Watch, the Wey Rangers, and the South East Rivers Trust collaborated on a comprehensive E. coli sampling day. Samples were collected from various locations, with the results later analysed at the Zero Hub community laboratory. The data revealed significant variations in bacterial contamination levels, particularly in the upper catchment.
The state of compliance: existential threat or bump in the road
From a certain viewpoint, Compliance functions in financial services have never had it so good. The recognition of the critical role of Compliance in senior executive accountability frameworks across the globe completes a meteoric rise from the box-checking beginnings over 30 years ago to a seat at global boards holding the trust and confidence of the regulator.
May test results show River Mole entering period of damaging poor water quality
Our citizen science volunteers, with the help of several newly trained recruits, were out testing in the last weekend of May across the River Mole catchment.
River Mole News: Exciting New Testing Roll-Out and a Sharp Deterioration in water quality from April pollution test results!
Our wonderful citizen scientists were out monitoring water quality at all of our test sites across the River Mole catchment over the last weekend of April. This month was a bit different for many of our volunteers. Following months of consultation and research we are currently rolling out new tests to supplement our regular phosphate testing. The aim is to further understanding of water pollution in the catchment by collecting more data to help trace the provenance of pollutants.
OPINION - England’s Lionesses are in the Women’s World Cup Final! : The Leader Podcast
Lionesses fans across London erupted in cheers, hugs and dancing as England secured their place in the World Cup final after a stunning victory over host nation Australia. A superb display with goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo ensured England reached their first World Cup final, beating the Matildas 3-1 in Sydney. From Australia, the Evening Standard's Simon Collings joins the show to tell us about the reaction, and what the team faces as they prepare for Spain on Sunday.
Marketing vs. branding: what’s the difference?
Round one… Marketing vs. branding. Ding ding! Actually, this is no fight. Successful marketing and branding operate in harmonious alignment, each boosting the impact of the other, and each with their own part to play. Presenting a consistent brand through marketing is associated with roughly 20 percent revenue growth, according to Marq (formerly Lucidpress). You need a great brand and effective marketing to see those results, however.
The business case for a bigger marketing budget [FREE template]
It’s nerve-wracking going to your executive board and asking for more budget to play with. You don’t want to be there (sweating away) wondering whether you’re getting your point across. What you need is a rock-solid business case. Business cases justify marketing expenses by proving that the company will see some positive returns. Compiling impressive benefits, backed up with indisputable marketing statistics, will show that upping your budget is the right thing to do.
SummerSalt festival in Fremantle postponed due to WA’s Level 2 restrictions
The SummerSalt festival starring Missy Higgins, Xavier Rudd, Birds of Tokyo and the Waifs due to take place at Fremantle Esplanade on Sunday has been postponed. The popular event expected to attract an 8000-capacity crowd is the first casualty of the Premier’s decision to introduce Level 2 restrictions capping attendance at 500 people for outdoor concerts.
Fist of Fury Noongar Daa
Kylie Bracknell’s Noongar language dub of the 1972 Bruce Lee classic Fist of Fury packs a fresh and fiercely First Peoples punch. Fist of Fury sees Lee on one of his most beloved adventures. When kung fu pupil Chen Zhen (Lee) discovers his teacher was murdered, vengeance sets him on an unstoppable path. Where will it take him? In Fist of Fury Noongar Daa, the answer comes via Noongar voice.
How to optimise your HubSpot website for SEO and performance
Just like Lewis Hamilton tuning his F1 car for the Monaco Grand Prix, you’ll want to optimise your HubSpot website. Why? Because Google loves a fast, streamlined website. It’s one of the key factors that determine how Google will rank your site. A fast website also provides the slick experience that visitors love.
3 strategies for acquiring authoritative backlinks for your website
The Google search algorithm loves a website with a mix of authoritative backlinks. Backlinks are the cornerstone of SEO. They help Google understand which websites are trustworthy, useful, and provide valuable to searchers, and that impacts where on Google your content indexes for. Unfortunately, though, 55 percent of web pages have no backlinks at all! I know. Shocking. Just imagine how much better your website would fare if you had sure-fire strategies for building high-quality backlinks.
The difference between internal and external links
For an SEO marketer, not understanding the difference between internal and external links is like not knowing the difference between cats and dogs. That might sound a little crazy. But in the same way, it’s an important difference you need to understand, and your marketing friends could make fun of you if you get it wrong. In this article, we’ll clarify the difference between internal and external links. And then, we’ll explore the purpose of each and how they feed into your wider marketing efforts.
How to calculate ROI for your brand building campaign
When it comes to brand building, the facts speak for themselves: Companies with poor branding pay 10 percent more in salaries. Consistent brand promotion results in a 23 percent increase in revenue. Consumers make a purchasing decision based on brand 77 percent of the time. With facts like these in your pocket, it’s easy to make the case for working on building your brand and improving your brand character. But hold your horses – how can you build a brand if you don’t know what to measure?
Remarketing vs. Retargeting vs. PPC: what's the difference?
Don’t get us wrong – we love marketing. But... We hate the marketing jargon. One by one, we want to explain those terms that get misused and confused. So, today, we’re going to set the record straight and clarify the differences between remarketing, retargeting and PPC. Let’s jump in. What’s PPC? PPC is an acronym that stands for ‘Pay Per Click’. It refers to digital advertising where you pay the advertising platform to show your ad.
A healthy culture in the insurance sector
by Simon Collins The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announcements over recent weeks have hit at the heart of financial services firms’ culture and fair treatment of customers. The FCA has instigated a consultation process regarding the provision of home and motor insurance products and the lack of transparency on cost and charges for new and existing customers. This consultation builds on a series of announcements the regulator has made recently about the trust in consumer financial markets.
Pneumocystis pneumonia, a COVID-19 mimic, reminds us of the importance of HIV testing in COVID-19
ABSTRACT While clinical environments are highly focused on COVID-19, reports of missed or delayed treatment for conditions that imitate COVID-19, such as pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii, are emerging. Given the uncertain spectrum of COVID-19 presentations and variable sensitivity of laboratory tests for SARS-CoV-2, there is a risk that, without a high index of suspicion, alternative aetiologies may be overlooked while pursuing a diagnosis of COVID-19.
Everything you need to know about topic clusters
Sixty-one percent of marketers say improving SEO and their organic presence is a top priority. Unfortunately, it’s a challenge that many businesses fail to overcome. This means their beautifully designed website remains unfound in the vast murky depths of the internet. Using proven strategies (like topic clusters) to drive SEO is key to turning this around. When you get it right, Google will understand your content and rank it more highly.
How to generate leads that are worth a damn
Generating leads is important – you know that. Some marketer has probably mentioned it once or twice, with that dreamy look in their eye. The real issue is not just how to generate leads, but how to make them high-quality leads that could become customers. A good lead has a higher chance of converting into a customer because they’re a better match for your product or service. Bad leads, bad seeds Poor quality leads aren’t helpful for many reasons.
The complete guide to local SEO
We’ve got a quick question for you… What if there was an easy way to optimise your website for local SEO? You’d take it, right? Well, while there are no silver bullets when it comes to SEO (or growing a business generally), today we’re going to cover some high-value processes that are sure to accelerate your SEO results. But before we look at how to optimise for local SEO, let’s define our terms. What is local SEO?
5 steps for creating PPC campaigns that get clicks
Creating effective PPC campaigns is kind of like baking the perfect cake. You need the right ingredients added at the right time, and then, you’ll get the perfect cake (or, in this case, a PPC campaign with an excellent ROI). So, let’s explore five of the most important things you need to improve your campaigns and deliver exceptional results. #1 Master your targeting There’s no point putting ads in front of people that aren’t interested.
Don't fall for the EU spin that ceding access to fishing grounds will be the price of a trade deal
All through the Brexit process – at least so far – EU negotiators have proved remarkably successful in dictating the sequencing of talks, deciding what should be discussed and when. It helped that the UK either failed to appreciate the importance of this concession or simply gave in, of course. A less formal but related concession is in the way the EU has been able to frame the terms of debate around the Brexit settlement in general.
Brexit News for Saturday 25 January
Boris Johnson signs Withdrawal Agreement in Downing Street… The prime minister hailed a “fantastic moment” for the country after he put his name to the historic agreement, which paves the way for the UK’s exit from the European Union next Friday. He said he hoped it would “bring to an end far too many years of argument and division”. Earlier on Friday, European leaders signed the document in Brussels, before it was transported to London by train.
The best 18 companies who will (probably) hire remote workers in 2020
70 percent of workers worldwide work remotely at least one day per week. We’re not surprised. There are plenty of reasons why remote working is so popular. For example, it helps employers save money on office-space, and it helps employees improve their work-life balance. So, remote working is on the up, but which companies are the biggest fans of remote working? Afterall, if you’re thinking about running or joining a remote business, you’ll want some examples of how it’s done well, right?
7 ways to turn employees into brand advocates
Word-of-mouth marketing drives £5 trillion in annual spending worldwide. That’s a big number. The question to ask, then, is this: Are you encouraging your employees to advocate for your brand? If not, you’re missing a trick. Your employees can be a powerful aide in supporting and growing your business. Sure, your website, blog, and other marketing efforts are critical for building authority and brand awareness, but you’ve also got an untapped resource in your employees.
Niall McGinn backs Northern Ireland teammates to reach 12 points target in Belarus
Niall McGinn celebrates scoring against Estonia at Windsor Park last March. NIALL McGinn has backed his Northern Ireland teammates to maintain their perfect start to Euro 2020 qualifying against Belarus on Tuesday night. The 31 year-old Aberdeen winger knows there's little room for error in Group C and so he's hoping the Green and White Army can secure their 12 points target from their opening four matches when they take on the Belarusians in Barysaw.
Aberdeen star Niall McGinn hails O'Neills Foyle Cup tournament
Aberdeen and Northern Ireland star, Niall McGinn Northern Ireland international and Aberdeen winger, Niall McGinn said he was 'honoured' to attend the gala launch of the 2019 International O’Neills Foyle Cup in Derry.
Walled City Marathon runner-up Chris McGuinness smashes personal best
Almost 1,000 runners get ready for the 2019 Walled City Marathon WALLED CITY Marathon runner-up, Chris McGuinness smashed his personal best record as he became first local across the tape at the Guildhall Square on Sunday. It was the Foyle Valley athlete's best ever performance at his hometown course as he finished less than six minutes behind the runaway winner, Kenyan Eric Koech.
Kenyan star Eric Koech wins 2019 Walled City Marathon
The Walled City Marathon medals at the finishing line. KENYAN STAR, Eric Koech lived up to his pre-race favourite's tag as he claimed his second Walled City Marathon victory in challenging conditions on Sunday morning in the seventh staging of the spectacular 26.2 mile classic.
International bestselling author Lorna Byrne to hold charity speaking event in Derry
International bestselling author Lorna Byrne. International bestselling author, Lorna Byrne will make her return to Derry for a special charity speaking event in Everglades Hotel on Monday, June 17th next. Lorna claims to see angels every day, seeing them physically just as she would see a person sitting in front of her and she will be in Derry to talk about her special gift, guardian angels and ways in which we can listen to God's guidance.
14 essential statistics about marketing strategy for technology companies (2019)
A marketing strategy is a core pillar of every business. According to Financier Worldwide: ‘For all firms, whether a modest start-up or a multi-national giant, an effective marketing strategy can serve as a crucial roadmap for the entire business.’ But, in the fast-paced world of technology, how do you differentiate and out-pace the competition? Well, starting with data-driven decision-making is crucial.
Guidelines in the context of medical ethics
Laura J Waters consultant in genitourinary/HIV medicine, Simon Collins advocate, Marta Boffito consultant and HIV service lead Waters Laura J, Collins Simon, Boffito Marta. Guidelines in the context of medical ethics BMJ 2019; 364 :l1040
8 Tools to plan and execute an amazing social media strategy
Have you used social media today? I’m willing to bet that you have. Indeed, 3.03 billion people use social media worldwide. Let that sink in. All those tweets, likes, shares, videos, images, memes and gifs. And don’t think social media is just for personal use. 88 percent of businesses with over 100 employees use Twitter for marketing. The writing is on the wall – social media is culturally ubiquitous and a mainstay of the marketing world.
Meet the foreign teachers educating our kids
Five teachers starting at Manurewa Intermediate are, from left, Ian Svela (Canada), Shane Vallender (South Africa), Esther Kim (USA), Thomas Morgan (Wales) and Joseph Harden (England). Photo / Doug Sherring A massive drive to recruit foreign teachers to fill gaps in schools is costing taxpayers about $10,000 for every teacher recruited. The Ministry of Education has approved overseas relocation grants worth $1.3 million for 200 foreign teachers and 81 returning Kiwis since December 2017.
Dergview second half comeback ends Maiden City's Irish Cup run
Maiden City representatives and players who attended the Tennents Irish Cup fifth round draw. From left, Chris Mansfield, Jamie Robinson, Paul Kee and Josh Kee. Maiden City lost out to Championship side Dergview Dergview 3, Maiden City 2 DERGVIEW came from behind against Intermediate League outfit, Maiden City to set up a meeting with holders, Coleraine in the sixth round of the Tennant's Irish Cup.
What to look for when hiring new employees
Hiring new employees is an important part of running and growing a business. But it can be difficult to get right. And if you aren’t careful, you’ll waste time and money hiring people who will negatively impact your business. In this blog post, find out what to look for when hiring new employees so you only hire the best. Are they integral and honest? It can be tempting to get excited by a candidate’s glowing CV.
12 essential statistics about website design
There’s no getting away from the fact that your business needs a well-designed website. It’s an important part of your business’ online presence. And don’t think it’s just about making things look beautiful (as important as that is). It’s also about improving the bottom line. To help you make the well-designed website your business deserves, here’s 12 essential statistics you need to know: Actually, people do judge a book by its cover Attractive web-design drives engagement.
8 ways to improve your relationship with your suppliers
There are many reasons why it’s important to maintain a great relationship with your supplier. The most important is that it makes day-to-day working more enjoyeable for everyone. It can also get you a better deal, help with collaboration and strengthen goodwill. But every supplier is different, and developing a strong relationship can be tricky. In this article, we explain how your business can create excellent supplier relationships, and keep them. 1.
The difference between blogging and content marketing
So, what exactly is blogging? For that matter, what’s content marketing? And why do you need to focus more on the latter? This article will clear up the difference and set you on the right track going forward. 60 percent of consumers feel positive about a brand after reading great content on a blog. But reading blogs and feeling positive doesn’t convert leads and grow an audience.
Frampton claims Windsor Park win was bigger than Santa Cruz fight
CARL Frampton lived out his Windsor Park dream in front of 24,000 partisan fight fans on Saturday night as he ruthlessly dismantled Tazmania’s Luke Jackson before delivering a ninth round stoppage to retain his WBO interim title. The Belfast featherweight admitted to being anxious in the build-up to the fight but showed no signs of nerves as he produced a polished, composed display forcing Jackson’s corner to throw in the towel 1.39 seconds into the ninth round.
VIDEO: Stop waiting for the perfect time - take action now!
How many times do you feel the motivation to commit but never do? It’s something I’ve heard as a coach so many times over the years, people who want to change but are maybe afraid of what that change might entail. One of our members who recently joined had told us she had a message written out to us about joining on so many different occasions but was afraid to hit send. Months passed and she finally signed up and then regretted she hasn’t done it sooner.
WATCH: Kenyan Dan Tanui breaks course record to win 2018 Walled City Marathon
Almost 1,400 people set off on the challenging 26.2 mile course along the banks of the river Foyle and it was the 2018 champion, representing Project Africa, who crossed the line unopposed in a magnificent time of 2:19:44 to smash the course record of 2:25:26 set by his countryman, Freddy Sittuk back in 2015.
WATCH: 2018 Walled City Marathon gets underway
Prior to setting off there was a round of applause for two athletes who had passed away recently and for one of the city's most legendary football characters, Paddy 'Smokey Maradonna' Hasson who died suddenly on Friday. The late Adrian Devine of Castelfinn Runners and James Lundy from Ballina has registered for the event but sadly passed away earlier this year.
VIDEO: Sore back? Tight shoulders? Try these simple exercises
In this week's Health, Fitness and Mindset blog, award winning personal trainer, Seamus Fox takes you through a series of daily exercises which can help loosen up those tight shoulders or stiff back. Check them out and let us know if it helps! Sore back, tight shoulders, from sitting all day? Try these simple but effective exercises. 1. Cat & Camel. Repeat for 30-60 Seconds. Keep hands under shoulders, knees under hips. 2. Shoulder Reach Throughs. 30-60 second alternating hands.
VIDEO: Not shifting the pounds? This could be why
Today I'm highlighting only some of the stories I hear people tell themselves. These are just a few reasons why people take one step forward and then three steps back a lot of times with their fitness goals. I'm all for flexibility and if you want long term success there has to be flexibility.
VIDEO: Avoid getting lost or confused on your personal journey
In this week's Health, Fitness and Mindset blog, award winning personal trainer, Seamus Fox talks about his experience of being lost in the Algarve this week and offers advice on how to reach your end goal by setting up a proper plan of action. I knew where I wanted to go but hadn’t a clue how to get there. I took vague directions that ended up being wrong. Yesterday morning I got up early to mediate and head for a nice walk. I wanted to walk to the nearest town for a coffee.
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