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19Nov
Category: foxhpqlg
16Nov
IPL 2019: Harbhajan plays down concerns over Kuldeep Yadav’s form ahead of World Cup
Kuldeep Yadav’s sudden loss of form in the ongoing IPL will not in any way impact his performance in the World Cup where he will have ample chance of a comeback, feels senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.Kuldeep, who is expected to be a vital cog in India’s World Cup campaign, has got only four wickets in nine games for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and was dropped in the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad due to “poor form”.”There is no doubt that Kuldeep is going through a rough patch in IPL. T20 is a format which can destroy the confidence of any bowler but let’s not compare formats. One-day (match) is a different ball game and you will see a very different Kuldeep,” Harbhajan told PTI during an interview on Wednesday.Harbhajan said from what he has seen Kuldeep bowling in the IPL, the wrist spinner has no technical problems as such.”I have watched a bit of his bowling and I don’t think there are any technical problems. And please check who all are hitting Kuldeep? The Indian guys are primarily hitting him. Virat (Kohli) in two games, Mayank (Agarwal), Mandy (Mandeep), Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan.”Leave aside Virat, who is in a different league, all these guys are competent players of spin bowling. They read Kuldeep’s wrists much better than foreign batsmen. So in World Cup, Kuldeep will be bowling mostly to those who are still not reading him well. I think you will see a different Kuldeep,” said Harbhajan, who has played two World Cup finals.advertisementBut Harbhajan expects Kuldeep to show some situational awareness when he is getting hit. He said in that situation his franchise captain should also play a role.”If he is getting hit by giving the deliveries more air, for a change, he can just push it a bit faster. If they are stepping out and hitting from a length, he can just alter the length by half a yard. Now when you get hit, your mind does not work automatically.”So there comes in the captain, who should tell him, ‘Okay, you have tried your thing, now try what I am telling you’. It helps a youngster,” said the player who has been a part of two most successful franchises in CSK and Mumbai Indians.Harbhajan then explained that in the World Cup, no team will be consistently attacking Kuldeep.”He may get hit but in the middle overs, the skipper will pack one side of the field, whether it’s inside 30-yard circle or outside. Even if he is hit for two fours, he can come back with figures of 3/50 or 2 for 45 on most days. And that’s decent figures. In ODIs, you have to be a really bad bowler to go for 75-80 runs every day,” said Harbhajan, who has 269 wickets from 236 ODIs.Another factor that will certainly work in Kuldeep and Yuzvendra Chahal’s favour is the period of play when they are expected to operate.”In IPL, Kuldeep is bowling the 14th or even the 16th over when batsmen are throwing their bats around. In the World Cup, Virat will probably finish their quota by latest 42nd or 43rd over. So the last seven overs, which will always be tricky, they are not expected to bowl,” Harbhajan said.Also Read | Kuldeep Yadav’s loss of form worrying for Team India before 2019 ICC World CupAlso Read | The boys just wanted to test our hearts: Harbhajan Singh jokes after another last-ball win for CSK
26Oct
Injury Update For Georgia Star RB D’Andre Swift
According to Seth Emerson of The Athletic, Swift didn’t show any obvious limitations when he was on the field.In all likelihood, Georgia’s coaching staff is taking precautionary measures with its star running back.Georgia practice observations:– D’Andre Swift out there today, no obvious limitations, though our time viewing practice was short.– Ben Cleveland was getting some first-team RG reps.– Nate McBride and Tyrique Stevenson, who had missed some practices, both back out there.— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) August 15, 2019Swift showcased his versatility last season, finishing with 1,346 scrimmage yards and 13 total touchdowns.Georgia lost a few playmakers to the 2019 NFL Draft, such as Riley Ridley, Mecole Hardman and Elijah Holyfield.It’ll be on Jake Fromm and Swift – if he’s healthy – to lead the Bulldogs on offense this season. 
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 01: D’Andre Swift #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs runs with the ball in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2018 SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)D’Andre Swift missed part of the Georgia Bulldogs’ workout on Tuesday, which raised concerns about his health. The star running back has dealt with a few injuries thus far in his career.With the season opener roughly two weeks away for the Bulldogs, the offense is hopeful that Swift will be at full strength. However, there is no indication that he’ll necessarily be ready to take his No. 1 role in the backfield.On Thursday, Swift returned to the practice for Georgia. He wasn’t taking on the responsibilities of the lead running back, though.Instead, senior Brian Herrien was the first tailback going through drills. This speaks more to the health status of Swift than it does his spot on the depth chart.
23Oct
MA in Container Shipping Expected to Ebb in 2018
zoom The consolidation drive in the container shipping sector through mergers and acquisitions is likely to slow down in 2018, according to online freight forwarder iContainers.Instead, this is likely to pivot to freight forwarders, where the industry can expect to see an increase in M&A talks.“In terms of carriers, I doubt we will see any more movements in the near future. I don’t see any major players breaking right now. Any acquisitions that were to take place now would be a purely strategic move, or if an opportunity presents itself for one of the bigger carriers to buy up a younger one,” Klaus Lysdal, Vice President of Sales & Operations at iContainers, said.Amid a prolonged market downturn, many carriers resorted to forming alliances and setting agreements on slot purchases. These allowed them to gain cost-effectiveness by combining their resources without risking further debt. Such movements have had its effects trickle down to shippers, the online freight forwarder added.The latest M&A round saw Japanese carriers NYK, MOL and K Line merge their containership business within the Ocean Network Express (ONE), scheduled to start operations on April 1, 2018.Creation of ONE came on the back of M&A deals involving CMA CGM and APL, Cosco and CSCL, Maersk Line and Hamburg Süd, and Hapag-Lloyd with UASC.“We’ve seen so many consolidation activities that there are now a lot fewer options for shippers to choose from and less flexibility with the number of carriers so dramatically reduced,” Lysdal explained.“But on the other hand, the good thing that has come out of all of this is some very much-needed rate increases to make the industry healthier overall.”SeaIntelligence Consulting’s CEO, Lars Jensen, agrees with the projection, adding that despite some aspirations for further mergers competition authorities are likely to block them.“Long term, Hyundai and Yang Ming are not going to be viable in their present states. They’re too large to become niche carriers and too small to become super carriers. They will transform or disappear in some way, shape, or form. Yang Ming is likely to be absorbed into Evergreen, even though Evergreen hates the idea. Hyundai will persist as long as the Korean government wants to subsidize them,” Jensen adds.According to Jensen, the shift may be moving down the line to the smaller carriers, where hundreds of small and medium-sized carriers will be starting to stir and probably where the consolidation game will ramp up over the coming years.“The capacity operated by these carriers has skyrocketed. And it’s not because they were operating more ships. It’s because they were redelivering smaller charter vessels and taking larger ones on. There’s no way they can all fill the ships that way. So there will be a consolidation with these small and medium-sized carriers.”Lysdal believes freight forwarders may also be mimicking the move and engaging in their own M&A activity for strategic growth purposes, with mid- and large-ranged forwarders acquiring tech-savvy companies as a shortcut into the digital market.“I think we will see that the top players will be watching and observing from the sidelines for a while. Once they see someone really make a breakthrough, that’s when they make their move.”
22Oct
School Liaison Officers Will Continue Oped
I commend the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board for its decision this week to maintain and potentially expand the School Liaison Officer Program to more schools. This is a good decision that will have positive benefits for more students in Cape Breton. I, and my Cape Breton colleagues, value this service and are pleased the Department of Education, the Cape Breton-Victoria board and Cape Breton Regional Police Service have been able to find a solution to preserve the service for another year, while we work together on a longer-term plan. We all agree it is important to have that strong link between local police and our schools. Having a police officer affiliated with a school, or family of schools, offers police and the school community a wonderful opportunity to build strong relationships, promote understanding and awareness, youth mentorship and, as a result, a safer community. The board’s school liaison officer program will now have four officers between the board’s five high schools and a number of their feeder schools. My expectation is that we can adapt to a new model of service that will allow more students at more schools to benefit from the relationship. The province has agreed to continue to cost-share this service for another year. This will allow the board and police time to develop a more efficient and cost-effective service similar to models in other school boards. Police services across Nova Scotia provide a model of where officers visit a number of schools as part of their job, at no cost to boards. While it is important to have strong links with police, I think it is also essential that everyone understand that our schools are already very safe and welcoming places for students, parents and staff. -30-
17Oct
Three dry areas in Nova Scotia to vote on whether to allow
HALIFAX – It sounds like something from the days of Prohibition, but voters in three parts of Nova Scotia will decide next month whether to allow the sale of alcohol in their communities.Plebiscites are scheduled for May 8 in districts three and four in Annapolis County and district eight in Colchester County.Andy LeBlanc of Elections Nova Scotia said there are about 100 districts in the province still considered “dry.”The question on the plebiscite is: “Are you in favour of the sale of liquor in your municipality in accordance with the Liquor Control Act?”LeBlanc said the request comes from the municipalities.“They make a request to the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp., and in turn they make a request to us, and we administer the entire process for the vote,” he said.In the case of Annapolis County, the request is to allow a microbrewery to sell its products, while in Colchester County, Raging Crow Distillery has taken to social media to encourage a “yes” vote so they can open a tasting bar and have retail sales on site.Each of the three areas have more than 1,000 eligible voters who are over the age of 19 years old.There have been 40 similar plebiscites across the province over the last 20 years and LeBlanc says most of them approved the sale of alcohol.“There have been a few that were opposed, but they’ve generally been in favour,” he said.
14Oct
Critics voice concerns over privatization of First Nations drinking water
(Above: The drinking water reservoir for Potlotek First Nation in Nova Scotia.)Trina RoacheAPTN National NewsIn his office down the road from Elsipogtog’s water tower, Simon Osmond turns on the tap. He won’t drink the water here. After all of the work he’s done studying water management systems on First Nations – he doesn’t trust it’s safe.Osmond has worked on water issues on First Nations in the Atlantic region for years. He says the aging infrastructure, lack of training for water operators and a lack of money from Ottawa all add up to create a dangerous situation.“What about when a First Nation community actually becomes a Walkerton,” says Osmond, who a senior policy analyst with the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations. “I don’t want that to be the basis for when the federal government will invest.”Ottawa has touted the $323 million it set aside in its Economic Action Plan in 2014 – money to be spread over two years, for all First Nations in Canada, for water.But it’s a drop in the bucket according to experts who say that is the amount needed to just get Atlantic bands up to par.Nationally, they have pegged it $4.7 billion.Of the 23 bands in the East Coast, that operate their own drinking water systems, 21 are considered high risk.As of March, 135 First Nation communities across Canada were under a boil water advisory.The federal government passed the Safe Drinking water for First Nations Act in 2013. Regulations are expected within the next year.“Enforcing regulations on reserve, where you have deteriorating conditions, to me, doesn’t make sense,” says Osmond. “How are First Nations supposed to improve it if they’re not getting the resources to manage it?”One option that government is looking at is P3s, a public-private partnership.Osmond has pitched the idea of a First Nations Water Authority (FNWA) for bands in the Atlantic. The project is called the First Nations Clean Water Iniative.The band would do a temporary surrender the land and assets tied to the water systems to the FNWA. In turn, FNWA – a group of engineers, operators and a First Nations board – would oversee water and wastewater operations for the bands. And under a P3 model, FNWA would sub-lease the land to the private company over a 25 year agreement.Emma Lui, with the Council of Canadians, said this model doesn’t have a great track record.“P3s in other regions, in other countries, other municipalities, have caused some serious problems in price increases for water,” says Lui. “We see a decrease in water quality.”Lui argues that privatization can cost governments more in the long run.“The Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act calls for high standards which is something that we want,” says Lui. “But without the appropriate funding, First Nations are in some ways forced to enter into these P3 agreements and later down the road they experience problems with the P3 agreement and want to cancel it the Canadian Government could see themselves with a trade challenge or trade lawsuit.”Others see giving up land, even as a lease, as a bad road to go down.“Once you privatize it then you’re losing your control on the other hand,” says Albert Marshall. “We should be doing just the opposite, aboriginal people should be seeking water rights.”Marshall is a Mi’kmaw Elder on the Eskasoni First Nation on Cape Breton. He’s spent years working to protect the water quality of the Bras d’Ors Lakes.“We can subsist with little parcels of land but we cannot live without water,” says Marshall. “So water should become our inherent right. And in our case we have to protect it for the next seven generations.”Some think the model may leave First Nations paying for their own drinking water.“I’ll say no,” said Potlotek’s Chief Wilbert Marshall. “Why should we pay for water? We didn’t agree to be put on reservations and stuck here.”What happens in the Atlantic could be a template for how the regulations for First Nations’ drinking water roll out across the country.And the questions are pouring in.Wilbert Marshall has heard from other First nations leaders across Canada.“Is it going to be privatized? Will you be paying for your water? So you have to give up your inventory and all that? Whose responsibility is it going to be? Whose neck is on the line? All the same questions we had,” he says.Charlie Sock has been the water operator of the Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick for 38 years. The pipes he’s working with are much older than that. He shows off a piece of cast iron pipe that he had to replace after a water main break; a common occurrence.“This pipe was installed in 1967, so do your math!” says Sock.He said the buck should stop with Ottawa.“They’re trying to approach it with a third party that comes in and funds the upgrades and we pay them for the next 25 years,” he says. “I mean it seems like Indian affairs is just dumping us off on the third party. And what are we going to have in 25 years, something that’s 25 years old?”Sock also worries one lease would just lead to another.“It’s just as if we’re talking about the 1969 white paper policy all over again,” he says. “Government washing their hands of us and we’ll be somebody else’s problem.”The idea of a First Nations Water Authority hangs in the balance as Aboriginal Affairs will decide on funding at the end of the month.“So it’s always ensuring that we push for something that is so sacred for us,” says Osmond. “Government doesn’t see it the same way we do. It becomes dollars and cents. The thing is, they’re doing it on the backs of First Nations health and safety.”On the Potlotek First Nation in Nova Scotia, there’s a new report sitting on the desk of Chief Wilbert Marshall.It details the dire problems with the band’s water and wastewater systems.Positive tests for e-coli.Aging infrastructure.A water tower unsuitable for a Canadian climate (the water freezes in the winter) and the paint is peeling – even on the inside of the tower which holds the drinking water.“I get phone calls from band members and they’re frustrated,” says the chief. “I don’t blame them. I am too. You can’t drink the water out of the tower and out of the tap, it’s brown or black.”troache@aptn.ca
12Oct
US Ambassador discusses employment prospects in Morocco
Azrou – Abdulsalam Sidiqi, the Moroccan Minister of Employment and Social Affairs, welcomed Dwight Bush, the U.S. Ambassador in Morocco on Thursday, at the headquarters of his ministry in Rabat.During their first meeting, both the Minister and the Ambassador praised the relationship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America. They reviewed the fields of cooperation between the two countries, and expressed the willingness of both sides to promote economic cooperation and trade.Sidiqi said that one of the main objectives of the Moroccan government is to promote the creation of job opportunities and fight against unemployment. He went on to say that his ministry is currently preparing a national strategy for employment that should be ready in October 2014. This strategy will primarily work on giving priority to sectors that create job opportunities.He also pointed out that the Ministry will organize a school day to assess the Labor Code in September 2014. The Ministry has prepared laws to compensate for job loss by employing domestic workers, promoting synergy, as well as launching a program for local development initiatives through regionalization and decentralization in the field of employment.On the other side, the American Ambassador praised the economic and social reforms carried out by the Moroccan government.He also emphasized the projects supported by the U.S. and the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs in Morocco, which have a positive impact on youth and on the most vulnerable social groups.© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed
12Oct
Visiting French minister lays wreath for victims of 2003 attack on UNs
The two ministers, who were received by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Deputy Special Representative for Iraq Michael von der Schulenburg and other staff members, emphasized the importance of the UN’s role in assisting the strife-torn country. In remarks earlier commemorating the event, Mr. Schulenburg noted that while the bombing affected the way the UN conducts its operation in Iraq, the world organization remains steadfast and determined to fully shoulder its responsibilities in helping and assisting the people and Government of Iraq as they chart their way towards a future marked by peace and prosperity. Representing the Government, George Bakus, Senior Advisor to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, offered his condolences to the families of the fallen, and voiced the appreciation of the Iraqi Government and people for the work of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). He reiterated the Government’s readiness to continue its cooperation with the UN, and looked forward to an expanded UN role consistent with UNAMI’s new mandate. The Security Council last week enhanced the mission’s role in such key areas as national reconciliation, regional dialogue, humanitarian assistance and human rights. The Diplomatic Corps accredited to Baghdad was represented at the ceremony by its dean, Ambassador Mihail Stuparu of Romania. 20 August 2007Visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Iraqi counterpart Hoshiyar Zebari laid wreaths at the memorial centre of the United Nations compound in Baghdad yesterday to pay tribute to the 22 people killed in the terrorist bomb attack exactly four years earlier on the then-UN headquarters, the Canal Hotel.
8Oct
Cenovus Energy Inc sells oil and gas royalty business to Ontario Teachers
TORONTO — The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan says it has an agreement with Cenovus Energy Inc. to acquire Cenovus’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Heritage Royalty Limited Partnership, in a deal worth about $3.3 billion.Calgary-based Heritage Royalty holds a broad portfolio of oil and gas royalties in Western Canada. It holds about 4.8 million acres of royalty and mineral fee title lands in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Cenovus said Tuesday in a statement. These generate revenue from drilling by other companies.“The proceeds from this sale will strengthen our balance sheet and provide us with greater resilience during these uncertain times as well as the flexibility to invest in organic projects with strong returns,” Cenovus Chief Executive Officer Brian Ferguson said in the statement.The pension plan says the deal, led by Teachers’ Natural Resources Group, is expected to close by the end of July once it receives the customary regulatory approvals.The decision to monetize the properties comes after the dramatic drop in oil prices since last year. The Calgary-based company raised $1.5 billion in a share sale in February as it sought to weather the slump. Since then it has considered several options to boost value from the royalty business, including a potential initial public offering of the unit.The sale to Ontario Teachers’ is set to improve Cenovus’s ratio of net debt to capitalization, which was 27 per cent at the end of the first quarter, according to the statement.Cenovus Energy Inc confirms talks about sale of assets, but silent on buyer’s identityOilsands sector remains strong despite political, economic doom and gloom, report saysHeritage Royalty had revenues of approximately $320 million in 2014 based on average production of approximately 14,800 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The Calgary-based company owns one of the largest packages of fee title acreage in Canada — about 4.8 million acres in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.The acreage is bigger than analysts had been expecting and it includes added royalties, including from the Pelican Lake project. Michael Dunn of FirstEnergy Capital Corp. estimated earlier this month that a value of as much as C$3 billion wouldn’t be unreasonable.Teachers’ created Natural Resources Group in 2013 to manage assets that include timberland, agriculture and oil and gas. With $154.5 billion in net assets as of Dec. 31, 2014, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is the largest single-profession pension plan in Canada.Cenovus Energy had confirmed on June 19 that it was in talks about the potential sale of royalty lands but provided no details.With files from Bloomberg
7Oct
Office of Research Services October podcast Autism
BrockUResearch: Consider This is a monthly podcast series launched Sept. 25 by the Office of Research Services and co-produced with Brock University’s radio station, CFBU.Each month, our researchers tackle an issue of interest to the community. They draw upon their findings, insights and experiences to broaden and deepen understanding in a particular area.Hosted by Mike Saunders, the podcast departs from the traditional question-and-answer approach. Our researchers – typically from different departments and disciplines – sit at the table and discuss and debate the issue with one another, each adding their unique piece of the puzzle.October’s podcast is: Autism. A common challenge for children and young adults living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face is to recognize and develop social skills so that they can interact effectively with others.Check out our upcoming podcasts and the BrockUResearch: Consider This homepage.Got a podcast idea, a comment or want more information? Contact: cmajtenyi@brocku.ca
7Oct
Senate committee approves FAA nominee over Dem objections
A Senate committee is voting along party lines to approve President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Federal Aviation Administration, with Democrats objecting.The 14-12 vote Wednesday by the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee means Stephen Dickson’s nomination moves to the full Senate.Democrats questioned Dickson’s commitment to air safety while head of flight operations for Delta Air Lines. They say he was involved in retaliating against a pilot who reported safety problems. If approved, Dickson also would head an agency that is investigating allegations that Delta failed to implement required safety procedures.The FAA is under intense scrutiny over its approval of the Boeing 737 Max airliner. Two of the planes crashed within the past year in Indonesia and Ethiopia, killing 346 people.The Associated Press
7Oct
How to tame addiction to subscriptions that can be a hidden drain
TORONTO — When it comes to spending, it’s often easy to overlook the small, routine expenses because they happen without requiring much thought.“We often say that people can nickel and dime themselves to death,” says Laurie Campbell, CEO of Credit Canada.“Because it’s those small expenses that eat away at your budget.”Although there have always been many opportunities to spend a few dollars here and there without much thought, Campbell says “this is becoming much more challenging in our digital age.”As a result, she and other experts say it’s critical to track your actual spending.“It’s usually a shock for people to find out what portions of their money is going to certain areas that they never knew about,” says Gary Rabbior, president of the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education.The technology, media and entertainment industries, for instance, have been offering a wider variety of paid subscriptions for everything from music, to news, to television.In fact, Canada is getting more choice in video-on-demand subscriptions as Netflix gets more competition from Amazon, Disney and Apple — not to mention domestic over-the-top services such as Bell’s Crave TV.And technology itself, be it anti-virus software, office applications or ink cartridges, is often available as a subscription.Although these are products of a digital age, the subscription business model has been around for a long time.It is an effective way to spread the cost of a good or service over time, through a series of scheduled payments that may seem easier to swallow than one big expense.“When we’re looking at a spending plan, we have to look at our rent or our mortgage, our debts, the utilities we pay (and) the food we eat before subscriptions,” Campbell says.“If you’re in a deficit or in a hole before those subscriptions, you can’t afford them.”Both Rabbior and Campbell say there’s value in looking at what’s being spent each week, or at least on a monthly basis.“You can be reminded of expenses you have previously approved and decide if you still want to incur those,” Rabbior says.“You can see if any of your previously agreed-to charges have increased — as they may have sent you a notice of the changes, maybe in fine print, and you may not be aware of the increased monthly charge.”Tips for managing subscriptions include:— Watch for unnecessary duplications. Two members in the same household may be able to share a subscription.— Compare offerings. Music, video or publication subscriptions from different sources may have significant overlap.— Calculate what a monthly or weekly subscription costs for a full year, including taxes and price increases.— Make sure that the vendor is delivering what you thought was promised.Campbell says people must learn to take advantage of what’s available in this digital age to ensure they are meeting their own needs.“Getting a subscription online may be really important to you . . . because you’re going to (use) it every day and take advantage of it and it’s something enjoyable for you,” Campbell says.“I think it’s about balance. And the problem is that a lot of people don’t have that balance.” David Paddon, The Canadian Press
6Oct
UN food agency rushes nutritious meals to quakehit Morocco
The disaster, which hit in the early morning hours of 24 February, killed almost 600 people, injured hundreds of others and left many homeless. WFP, working together with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Moroccan government partners, will provide daily meals – consisting of high-energy biscuits and locally-procured cheese and milk – to some 16,000 school children and one-month rations of wheat flour, sugar and oil to 1,300 families in the region most affected by the earthquake. “Our aim is to encourage families to send their children back to school and help them to cope with their losses,” said Nicholas Oberlin, Programme Officer for WFP’s assessment team in Morocco. In the coming days, UNICEF will ship 225 recreation kits as well as 450 education kits for up to 35,000 children, and a limited number of large school tents, meningitis vaccines and water purification tablets to Morocco. Many of the victims were caught in their sleep when the earthquake, registering 6.5 on the Richter scale, struck the port city of Al-Hoceima and its surrounding villages. Several aftershocks have continued to affect the area, some 300 kilometres northeast of Rabat, and many people are still afraid to sleep indoors, despite the cold and wet conditions, according to the UN. Some 500,000 homeless survivors are living in tents.
4Oct
Canadas exporting sector expects to improve sales over next six months
OTTAWA – A new analysis of Canada’s key trading firms suggests they are increasingly optimistic about the prospects for boosting exports to the rest of the world, which the Bank of Canada calls the missing piece in the country’s economic recovery.The study of 769 exporters and investors, conducted by Export Development Canada and released Thursday, shows more are anticipating an improvement in global conditions in the next six months and confident they will be able to take advantage of it.The optimism lifted the EDC’s fall trade confidence index by 2.8 points to 75.4, following a similar gain in the spring. More significant, said the federal agency, is that it constitutes the first back-to-back improvement in sentiment since 2010.“Back-to-back increases in trade confidence haven’t happened since the deluge of government spending hit the world economy in 2009,” said EDC chief economist Peter Hall.“What’s compelling about this is that there’s a simultaneous echo of optimism around the world, including consumers and businesses in the U.S. and Europe, and broadly across Japanese industry.”The Bank of Canada says the principal missing ingredient needed for Canada’s economy is a “rotation” from domestic demand to more export-oriented production, to attain sustainable growthBut in a statement on Wednesday, the bank noted that transition in the economy still had not occurred.There was some mild encouragement Wednesday, when the country reported its first monthly trade surplus in 22 months, although it was small and based on declining imports rather than rising exports.As of October, exports had increased 5.3 per cent from a year earlier, a modest but positive bump considering that the shipments are still below pre-slump levels.The study is based on a survey conducted in late September and early October.The survey found 55 per cent of respondents were anticipating higher sales in the next six months and 40 per cent said that orders from the U.S. have increased during the past six months, both improvements from the spring results.As well, almost a third of respondents said they expected to hire more employees during the next six months, although almost three quarters said they anticipate difficulty finding the skilled workers they will need. by The Canadian Press Posted Dec 5, 2013 8:08 am MDT Canada’s exporting sector expects to improve sales over next six months AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email
2Oct
UNICEF urges greater opportunities for forgotten minority as study reveals bleak prospects
In a new report released to coincide with World Children’s Day, UNICEF revealed that in 37 countries, some 180 million youth are more likely to exist in extreme poverty, be out of school or be killed by violence, than children in those same countries 20 years ago. “While the last generation has seen vast, unprecedented gains in living standards for most of the world’s children, the fact that a forgotten minority of children have been excluded from this – through no fault of their own or those of their families – is a travesty,” said Laurence Chandy, UNICEF Director of Data, Research and Policy. In honour of World Children’s Day, which marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF has coordinated a range of activities in over 130 countries that aim to give youth their own platform, helping to save their lives, fight for their rights and fulfil their potential – including children’s global ‘take-overs’ and high-profile events. Among a host of events and activities worldwide, at UN Headquarters in New York, UNICEF will bring together high-profile supporters, influencers and special guests alongside children who represent some of the world’s most vulnerable children to speak out to the international community on issues that matter to them. Many are expected to join Secretary General António Guterres and 150 children in a ‘take-over’ of the UN complex.“It is the hope of every parent, everywhere, to provide greater opportunities for their children than they themselves enjoyed when they were young. This World Children’s Day, we have to take stock of how many children are instead seeing opportunities narrow and their prospects diminish,” Mr. Chandy said. In assessing the prospect of children in escaping extreme poverty, getting a basic education and avoiding violent deaths, among other things, the UNICEF analysis shows that the share of people living on less than $1.90 a day has increased in 14 countries mostly due to unrest, conflicts or poor governance.It also revealed that due to financial crises, rapid population growth and the impact of conflicts, primary school enrolment has declined in 21 countries; violent deaths among children below the age of 19 have increased in seven conflict-ridden countries; and that four countries witnessed a decline across more than one of the three areas measured. “In a time of rapid technological change leading to huge gains in living standards, it is perverse that hundreds of millions are seeing living standards actually decline, creating a sense of injustice among them and failure among those entrusted with their care,” said Chandy. “No wonder they feel their voices are unheard and their futures uncertain.”
2Oct
Inclusion projects launched during Niagara Pride Week
As the Transgender Pride flag was raised for the first time at Brock, two new programs meant to increase inclusivity on campus were set in motion.Jasper Fisher, Trans-Inclusion Project Student Assistant (foreground) is pictured with, from left, Markus Tawfik, Brock Pride, Anna Lathrop, Brock Vice-Provost, Teaching, Learning and Student Success, Bryan Giordano, Brock University Biotechnology graduate student, Manchari Paranthahan, Queer Trans People of Colour, OPIRG Brock, All-Genders Washroom Project Student Assistant, Karl Thorp, Campus Security Senior Platoon Supervisor and Tim Kenyon, Vice-President, Research, Brock University.Representatives from Brock Pride, Positive Living Niagara, Pride Niagara and OPIRG Brock’s Queer Trans People of Colour group were among several speakers who addressed the importance of inclusion during a ceremonial flag raising Monday, June 4.The Pride and Transgender Pride flags marked the beginning of Niagara Pride Week and the launch of two new programs that will focus on making Brock more inclusive and accessible for transgender students.Michelle Poirier, Advisor with Brock’s Office of Human Rights and Equity, announced that thanks in part to funding from the Canada Summer Grant Program, second-year Neuroscience student Jasper Fisher and fourth-year Dramatic Arts student Max Hunter will respectively lead the Trans-Inclusion and All-Genders Washroom projects.A large component of the Trans-Inclusion Project will be educating current and future members of the Brock community. In addition to creating a guide on how to navigate campus as a transgender student, Fisher will be leading seminars for departments, faculty members and leadership on how to be more trans-inclusive.Fisher will also work to improve the administrative policies and procedures that involve collection of gender-based data or differentiation of gender-based identities, like registration.“Brock’s registration forms need to be more accessible for trans students like me,” said Fisher. “For example, I haven’t legally changed my name yet, so the school still uses my birth name that I don’t go by. It can be incredibly dysphoria triggering to have your birth name referenced to you.”Fisher will work closely with Hunter, who will be evaluating the University’s washrooms for gender inclusivity. Part of the All-Genders Washroom Project involves identifying gender-neutral washrooms on campus, assessing washroom signage and recommending improvements.“There’s definitely a need for more gender-neutral washrooms,” Hunter said. “There aren’t enough. Some of them are gender-neutral but aren’t identified as so, and some have gendered signage or are combined with accessible washrooms.”From left, Raven Klawe, Douglas Borg and Michael Pore, of Pride Niagara, Brock President Gervan Fearon, Greg Finn, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Academic, Michelle Poirier, Advisor, Human Rights and Equity, Brock University, and (kneeling) James Mandigo, Vice-Provost, Enrolment Management and International, Brock University.The washroom review will include all publicly accessible buildings on Brock’s main campus, including change rooms within Walker Sports Complex and washrooms in residence buildings.“Residences with shared gendered washrooms create a significant barrier for students who don’t feel comfortable using either a male or female washroom,” said Hunter. “Transgender students often miss class time, experience harassment or suffer from medical issues related to not being able to access or comfortably use washrooms on campus.”Poirier said the washroom project will involve community consultation that will benefit more than transgender students.“The washrooms will be truly inclusive to a diverse population, including people who prepare for prayers, people with small children and people who use mobility devices,” she said.For more information on either of these projects, email humanrights@brocku.ca
25Sep
Prince Harry and Meghan wouldnt want us swept off the streets say
“I’m off drugs now, but my parents wont take me back,” she says. “And being homeless means you can’t sign on for benefits and people won’t give you a job because you don’t have a permanent address. They also have issues about hygiene and trust if you’re on the streets.” But Mr James – and the majority of the rough sleepers we found in Windsor yesterday – reject Mr Bradley’s claim that they are professional beggars.“We’ve got to stop talking about these people in Dickensian terms,” said Mr James. “Rents are rising, housing benefit is capped, property is expensive. All this adds to increasing numbers of homeless people.”“I don’t know any beggars that are ‘professional’. If they are driven to the point of asking for money it is because there is something seriously wrong, whether its mental health problems, drugs or poverty.With 24-year-old Carla one led to the other. Thrown out of her parents’ house in Windsor after developing a drug addiction she now calls a bus stop in front of Natwest bank her home. One huddles in the doorway of McDonald’s. Another has erected a makeshift home of cardboard and sleeping bags in the shadow of Windsor Castle.A third has wrapped herself in blankets against the chill wind, at a bus stop on the town’s high street.These are just some of the dozens of homeless people who flock to Windsor town centre every day.Here they rely for food and money on the generosity of the hundreds of tourists and shoppers who pass them on their way to the sights of the royal town.But the presence of so many rough sleepers and beggars has sparked a huge row, after the leader of Windsor and Maidenhead council (RBW&M) called for them to be cleared from the streets in advance of the May wedding of Prince Harry and his fiancee, the American actress Meghan Markle.Writing on Twitter during a family skiing holiday in the United States, Conservative councillor Simon Bradley said they had made a “commercial life choice praying on residents and tourists.” He even claimed some are “marching tourists to cashpoints to withdraw cash”. 
“Nobody wants to look out onto that while they’re eating,” he said. “The council leader is absolutely right. Some are legitimately homeless, but others come from miles around to beg and make good money. They should all be cleared away now.”Windsor and Maidenhead council said Mr Dudley was “out of communication” and would not be adding to his earlier statements.Councillor Jesse Grey, of RBW&M, said: “Nobody should be homeless in Windsor. We have found suitable and adequate accommodation for any individual to take up and its better than being on the streets.” “I can’t believe for a minute that Prince Harry and Meghan would agree with us being driven away. They seem as if they care about people.”James, 35, who also comes from Windsor, became homeless a year ago, when his mother was moved into a single flat by the council, leaving him with no room. Tracey, 49, found herself homeless after her partner died of cancer. For months she ‘sofa surfed’, sleeping in friends’ flats until they ran out of patience six months ago. Massimo Quagliozzi, who runs viva L’Italia restaurant in Windsor, says the rough sleepers outside his windows are damaging tradeCredit:Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph 
Stuart turned down the offer of a B&B in Southall, 15 miles away, so he can be close to his elderly motherCredit:Eddie Mulholland /The Telegraph Leader of Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Simon Dudley, called for the removal of beggars and rough sleepers from the townCredit:PA Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings. She is qualified in adult social care and still has ambitions to work in that field.“Getting rid of us in the way the council leader said is ridiculous,” she insists. “We’d just move on to another town. Why don’t they get together and convert empty buildings into homes instead?”As a young woman, Carla is particularly vulnerable on the streets, with sexual assault an ever present threat.As we speak a kindly woman hands her a paper bag containing a fresh croissant.A hundreds yards further along James and his friend Tracey have also been the recipients of people’s generosity, in their case a packet of M&S christmas cake squares.A little coffee cup at their feet contains a handful of coins left by sympathetic passers’ by.“Some people are horrible. I’ve been attacked, sexually assaulted, spat on, had my sleeping bag pulled away, you name it,” said Tracey, 49. “But others are really nice and will leave us food, or a bit of money. But neither of us beg. We don’t approach people for money and we’re definitely not aggressive. Shoppers wait for their bus while Carla faces another day on Windsor’s streetsCredit:Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph 
James and Tracey huddle from the wind in the doorway of a Windsor McDonald’sCredit:Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph In contrast to claims that Windsor’s rough sleepers can make as much as £150 a day by begging, Tracey and James maintain they collect no more than £15 each on a good day.“If I made £150 do you think I’d be sleeping in a shop doorway? Don’t be daft,” said James. “I’d rent a flat.”Stuart, 40, whose pitch is in front of Windsor Castle, was offered a bed and breakfast room by Windsor and Maidenhead council in Southall, 15 miles away. But he says that is too far from his 70-year-old mother’s care home in the town.“It think it’s fair enough of me to turn it down,” he said. “But I’ve been offered nothing else and here I am.” 
Massimo Quagliozzi, a former priest from Naples, has little sympathy. He says business at his Viva L’Italia restaurant has plummeted as a result of rough sleepers bedding down outside its windows. Mr Bradley says traders have been driven to despair by the presence of so many rough sleepers outside the towns’ shops, restaurants and cafes. 
Charities criticised Mr Bradley, saying the homeless and destitute could not simply be driven off the streets.But one charity worker admitted yesterday that Windsor has a particular problem because, as an affluent tourist destination, it attracts beggars from less well-off towns in the Thames Valley area.Murphy James, of the Windsor Homeless Project, said: “We have about 12 to 15 rough sleepers from Windsor and on top of that people come from Slough and other towns. They go where the money is and so would you if you were homeless and desperate.”
22Sep
Champions League M Atletico and Medvedi share points
In the first games of the 7th round of the Champions League, HSV Hamburg easily beat Constanta at home with 36:25, with the hosts having the lead during the whole game. In the other game, the more interesting one, we saw Atletico Madrid and Chekhovski Medvedi sharing points, the game ending 29:29. Chekhovski had the lead at halftime with 18:16, but in the second half Atletico Madrid managed to fight back and in the end we saw a draw result. With this point Atletico Madrid is still first in group B with 12 points, while Chekhovski is 3rd now with 7 points and 3 rounds to go til the end, and we will see interesting fight in this group, as Vive Kielce with a win in the weekend will be there with 6 points, and all will be pretty open in this group. ← Previous Story World Championship (W) in Brazil begins tomorrow! Next Story → Hassan Moustafa victim of racism and jealousy?!
21Sep
This wasnt about him not getting a game Father denies son getting
Short URL Friday 28 Apr 2017, 5:27 PM By Sean Murray 1 Comment Share Tweet Email Image: Shutterstock/Mikkel Bigandt Apr 28th 2017, 5:27 PM ‘This wasn’t about him not getting a game’: Father denies son getting dropped a factor in court case The now-18-year-old lost a court case alleging that his football team bullied him and caused post-traumatic stress.
YESTERDAY, AN 18-year-old lost a case taken on his behalf by his parents, against his former football team.The then-14-year-old Sean Cooke played for Carrigaline United in Cork, and it had been alleged that he suffered from post-traumatic stress and bullying after being dropped from the team.Speaking to the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s Red FM, his father Declan said that the family had no regrets about taking the case.Addressing the issue of being dropped from the team, Declan Cooke said that “it couldn’t be further from the truth” that they brought the court case for that reason alone.He described how Sean had represented Carrigaline at the Kennedy cup level, and had been approached by scouts from English clubs who’d shown an interest in his abilities.Declan referenced a disagreement he had with the coach of his son’s team, and said he raised his concerns at the club that Sean wouldn’t be treated fairly following this disagreement.He said that he tried to get clearance to change teams but this wasn’t permitted by the league.He couldn’t play from November 2012 for another nine months. Image: Shutterstock/Mikkel Bigandt http://jrnl.ie/3364567 Declan said that being dropped from the team following the dispute with the coach had a very negative effect on Sean.“He didn’t feel comfortable in those surroundings,” he said, after Sean was offered a chance to switch to the older age-group team.When he eventually made the switch to a new team a year later, Declan said he impressed there but did not receive contact from overseas scouts.The boy’s father alleged that bullying persisted from members of the club after Sean left Carrigaline, but this was dismissed in court.This was not about a child not getting a game. This was never about Sean losing any opportunities.When asked if Sean was simply not good enough to play for the team, his father rejected that, saying that he had started almost all of the other games the previous year.He said that if the case was all about him being dropped from the team, they would have taken it years ago. It was due to the abuse he allegedly received after leaving the team that caused Sean to suffer from the post-traumatic stress which prompted the case.Declan Cooke also denied that the case was “about money”.Reading out a statement issued by Sean Cooke, the host Prendeville said: “My parents took this case on my behalf due to a two and half-year spell of consistent bullying.I’m very proud of my parents for taking the stand for me. It was the right thing to do. It wasn’t about “not getting a game”.Read: Former Sinn Féin councillor ‘waterboarded and threatened to chop up man’ court hearsRead: Ambulance driver sentenced to 2.5 years for sexual assault of nine-year-old girl 31,651 Views Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article