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first_imgzoom The third set of the Panama Canal locks, which was inaugurated on June 26, has raised considerable safety concerns which could lead to accidents and delays for shippers and higher claims for insurers, according to a report from PGI Intelligence.The report also noted that structural issues relating to the new locks could threaten the long-term integrity of the project and risk new delays.Despite the advantages offered by the canal’s expansion, there have been growing concerns over safety issues associated with the introduction of neo-panamax vessels along the waterway.Industry bodies have warned that at 427 meters long and 55 meters wide, the new locks are too small for the neo-panamax. The largest vessels can measure up to 366 meters long and 49 meters wide, leaving a distance of just 6 meters across the width of the canal and 61 meters length-wise, much of which will be taken up by tugboats on either end of the vessel to guide it through the lock.A joint study by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and Brazil’s Fundação Homem de Mar (FHM) found that under windy conditions the manoeuvrability of vessels would be compromised, making accidents likely due to the lock’s narrow dimensions.Further concerns have been raised over structural integrity after cracks appeared in the Cocoli lock during the testing phase in August 2015.The prospect of an accident involving such large vessels and cargo loads presents significant financial risks for shippers and insurers. An accident would also impose indirect costs as a result of delays to scheduled transits through the canal.Additional risks of disruption along the route stem from the potential for industrial action by canal workers. Construction workers from the Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC) and National Union of Workers in the Construction Industry (Untraics) staged regular strikes during the nine-year construction of the canal, over a wide range of issues including pay, changes to labour law and allegations of corruption during the construction, contributing to the two-year delay in completing the expansion. With construction work on the canal now complete, the highest risk of strike action is from workers operating the canal.The cost-savings associated with the introduction of neo-panamax vessels could be compromised by draft restrictions imposed during droughts along the canal, according to PGI Intelligence.Such measures undermine the competitive advantage of the canal if they require post-panamax vessels to significantly lighten their load. With water consumption in Panama increasing and additional water diverted to expand the locks, such shortages are expected to remain a major issue.“The success of the expansion of the Panama Canal is partly dependent on how the ACP manages and mitigates such risks through training and its response to the emergence of any safety and structural vulnerabilities,” PGI Intelligence said, adding that the ACP has taken a cautious approach to the new locks, initially permitting four vessels per day during an initial trial period before increasing the canal’s maximum capacity to 13-14 transits per day.“Any major safety failings, a fall in water levels or evidence of damage to the locks, however, would create significant pressure on the ACP to implement restrictions on the locks, with implications for larger vessels and a negative economic impact on the authority and its revenues,” PGI Intelligence noted.The USD 5.3 billion nine-year construction project is hoped to significantly improve the cost efficiency of trade between Asian markets and the east coasts of the US and Latin America.As much as 79 percent of global cargo-carrying capacity will be able to access the canal, up from 45 percent previously, saving neo-panamax-class vessels up to 14 days transit time on round trips.last_img read more

first_imgzoomFor illustration only. Source: Pixabay under CC0 Creative Commons license Dry bulk specialists Genco Shipping & Trading Limited has closed on a five-year senior secured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to USD 460 million.Proceeds from the new credit facility were used, together with cash on hand, to refinance all of the company’s existing credit facilities into one facility and pay down the debt on the oldest seven vessels in Genco’s fleet.“We are pleased to have closed on this attractive USD 460 million facility, which was oversubscribed by approximately 40%. With this new facility, we have strengthened our position to capitalize on attractive growth opportunities and have provided Genco with the ability to pay dividends, while simplifying the Company’s capital structure,” Apostolos Zafolias, Chief Financial Officer, said.The new USD 460 million facility lowers Genco’s interest costs through improved pricing, eliminates near-term refinancing risk by extending loan maturity to 2023, establishes an attractive amortization profile, and enhances the company’s flexibility to execute its fleet growth and renewal program by lifting restrictions on vessel acquisitions and additional indebtedness.The final maturity date of the facility will be May 31, 2023. Borrowings under the facility will bear interest at LIBOR plus 325 basis points through December 31, 2018 and LIBOR plus a range of 300 to 350 basis points thereafter, dependent upon total net indebtedness to the last twelve months EBITDA.Scheduled amortization payments USD 15 million per quarter commencing on December 31, 2018 and may be recalculated upon the company’s request upon certain events.last_img read more

first_img communications surveillance public health measures vaccines antivirals health services “Being prepared for a pandemic doesn’t mean that people won’t get sick,” said Health Promotion and Protection Minister Barry Barnet. “That’s why having the right public-health measures in place is so important. As well, we will follow national guidelines in rolling out our vaccine and antiviral strategy so that Nova Scotians are protected as much as possible during a pandemic.” Planning is also underway in the areas of ethics, stockpiling, and volunteer management during a pandemic. It will continue to be updated on an ongoing basis as planning progresses in each area. It is expected that 15 to 35 per cent of Nova Scotia’s population will become ill during a pandemic. About 1,000 to 3,000 Nova Scotians will require hospitalization, and 300 to 1,000 people could die. Every year between 500 and 1,500 Canadians, mostly seniors, will die from pneumonia and other complications of ordinary seasonal influenza. The ministers referenced past emergencies like Hurricane Juan and Swiss Air, which have helped the province understand the need for flexible, co-ordinated, and ongoing emergency planning. The global spread of a new influenza virus that can be easily transmitted is known as an influenza pandemic. To access the pandemic plan or for more information on pandemic influenza, see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/govt/pandemic . The province’s pandemic plan for the health system will aim to reduce the amount of sickness and death during a potential influenza pandemic. The first version of the Nova Scotia Health System Pandemic Influenza Plan, made public today, June 26, was developed in consultation with the district health authorities and incorporates feedback from various health partner organizations. “We know that an influenza pandemic would cause great stress on our health system, so this plan focuses on trying to ensure a level of care for Nova Scotians during what will be a very stressful time,” said Health Minister Chris d’Entremont. “An event such as this, however, would not only stress the health system, but the economy and society in general. And we need to prepare for that.” The provincial plan will continue to evolve as new information emerges on the local, national, and international fronts. The plan describes action, organized by pandemic phase, in areas of:last_img read more

first_imgFilm Nova Scotia and Telefilm Canada are combining forces to deliver the First Feature Project. Investing in Nova Scotia’s filmmaking talent for more than 20 years, both corporations recognize the importance of encouraging emerging producers, directors, and writers to create new productions. “The First Feature Project allows us to cultivate and encourage the talent in Nova Scotia,” said Ann MacKenzie, president and CEO of Film Nova Scotia. “As emerging filmmakers progress in their careers, the film industry in Nova Scotia will reap the economic and cultural benefits of bigger and better productions being created locally.” The First Feature Project will provide financing to a producer, director, writer team for the production of their first feature film. To qualify, applicants must have produced at least two professional short films, and one of them must have screened at a major Canadian or international film festival. Project information can be found at www.filmnovascotia.com. This is the first time Film Nova Scotia and Telefilm Canada have partnered on a project aimed at developing talent and are expecting to see strong interest from the industry. “This project is a good example of how like-minded organizations can work in partnership,” said Gord Whittaker, regional director of Telefilm Canada. “This collaboration effort leverages our limited resources and responds to a need in Nova Scotia’s film industry.” Chaz Thorne, a local writer-producer-director and actor, is no stranger to the film industry in the province. With three feature films under his belt, Whirligig, Just Buried, and Poor Boy’s Game, he understands the challenges of launching a feature film production. “What an excellent opportunity for up-and-coming Nova Scotian filmmakers looking to make the leap to feature-length production,” said Mr. Thorne. “It’s great to see Film Nova Scotia and Telefilm working together to provide emerging creative teams with the financial support and guidance required to further establish their careers.” Film Nova Scotia and Telefilm Canada are inviting eligible filmmakers to attend the First Feature Project launch from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, April 4 at the Carleton Restaurant, 1685 Argyle St., Halifax. At the event, participants can learn more about project eligibility and how to apply, and will also have the opportunity to meet with industry representatives and other filmmakers. Please e-mail filmns@gov.ns.ca to secure a spot. Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian productions that appeal to domestic and international audiences. Telefilm also administers the Canada Media Fund’s programs. Film Nova Scotia is a provincial Crown Corporation reporting to the Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. The corporation provides a wide range of programs and services to support the province’s audiovisual industry. With an industry that employs almost 3,000 and contributes $100 million to the economy annually, Nova Scotia is among the largest production centres in Canada.last_img read more

first_imgA teen from London, Ont., who was using e-cigarettes daily suffered a severe case of pulmonary illness, local health officials announced Wednesday, saying they believe it is the first confirmed case of vaping-related lung disease in Canada.The Middlesex-London Health Unit said the youth was initially on life support but is now recovering at home after being treated in an intensive care unit.Dr. Christopher Mackie, the unit’s medical officer of health, said doctors investigated the case thoroughly and ruled out other causes for the illness such as cancer and immune-related diseases.“The only issue that was identified was that the individual vaped e-cigarettes,” Mackie said. “This individual was using e-cigarettes at least daily.”Health Canada has been urging people who vape to watch for symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting and chest pain. It has also said that health-care professionals should ask patients about their use of e-cigarette products if they have respiratory symptoms.Officials in the United States have been investigating a mysterious surge of severe breathing illnesses linked to vaping marijuana in recent months. They have identified 380 confirmed and probable cases in 36 states and one territory, including at least six deaths.Some U.S. researchers suspect the cause is vitamin E acetate, which is used as a thickener in vaping products, and known to trigger pneumonia when inhaled.The report about the London case came just hours after the province’s health minister ordered all public hospitals to report vaping-related cases of severe pulmonary disease.Christine Elliott said she has become increasingly worried about vaping.“In light of the growing evidence, I have become increasingly concerned about the prevalence and possible health consequences of vaping, particularly as they affect our youth,” she said in a statement. “At the same time, it has become abundantly clear that we do not have access to sufficient data and information to understand the potential scope of this issue.”A spokeswoman for Elliott later said the London case “just highlights the importance of collecting this sort of data from hospitals so that we can move forward to find evidence-based solutions.”RELATED: A potentially fatal lung illness is paralyzing the vaping worldVaping was also recently added as a new topic in Ontario’s health and physical education curriculum for elementary students. Grade 4 students learn about the risks of vaping in substance use and addictions lectures, while Grade 1 students learn vaping is part of a list of behaviours that can be harmful to a person’s health.Alberta has also started legally requiring provincial health-care professionals to report suspected cases under their public health act.British Columbia’s health ministry said last week that it was preparing a response to the issue, including education and awareness, as part of a strategy to reduce the number of youth vaping in the province.Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health has said he is sending informal email inquiries to respiratory specialists and intensive care units at the province’s hospitals to look for cases similar to what is occurring in the U.S.WATCH: In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning against buying some vaping products The six who died in the U.S. were all adults and some had pre-existing lung problems or other conditions that may have made them more susceptible. The Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. said it doesn’t know if the illness is new or just newly recognized.With files from Nicole Thompson and the Associated Presslast_img read more

first_img(Photo of Lloyd Jacques being shared on social media)APTN National NewsA community in eastern Quebec is in mourning as a Mi’gmaq fisher is declared “lost at sea.”Listuguj Mi’gmaq government spokesperson Mike Isaac identified the man as 52-year old Lloyd Jacques. Jacques was a crew member aboard a Listuguj-owned fishing vessel when he fell overboard in the early hours of August 14.The boat was fishing eight miles south of Port Cartier, a town located on the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River. Surete du Quebec, Coast Guard and community vessels had been searching for Jacques until that search was called off this weekend.Mi’gmaq government offices were closed for a memorial service today in Listuguj, Jacque’s home community.last_img

Rabat – The first volume of the Multidimensional Review of Morocco by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is stirring the ire of Moroccan ministers of economy and industry, who deem the report to be “unfair.” For the OECD, the Moroccan economy is “dynamic and internationalized.” Boosted by key sectors such as tourism, agriculture and phosphates, the kingdom managed to outstrip its traditional strong points and capitalize on new industries such as the automotive and aeronautics sectors. However, despite its strong level of openness, the Moroccan economy is still “poorly competitive and stagnant,” believes the OECD. In the first volume of its Multidimensional Review of Morocco the OECD did not chew its words, pointing out the kingdom’s volatile economic growth, a development model that suffers from serious disparities, and incoherent public policies that hinder economic development. Mohamed Boussaid, Minister of Economy and Trade, had a hard time swallowing the criticisms yesterday during the presentation of the report in Rabat in the presence of the head of government. “The Moroccan economic model needs to be reworked,” agrees Boussaid, adding however, that it does not need to be “revised from top to bottom.” The Minister of Finance, while conceding to the diagnosis of the experts of the OECD, has not confirmed all its conclusions. According to the OECD, the Moroccan development model is suffering from “serious imbalances.” While the Kingdom has experienced a strong accumulation of capital over the last few decades, the emergence of new competitive activities in industry and services, as well as a sustained activity in construction and public works, it remains confronted with relatively low growth, stagnating labor productivity and a relatively high level of unemployment. For the OECD, Morocco’s development strategies are dire need of reviewing, due to this striking contrast between the good sectoral indicators and the low aggregate result.Volatile Economic GrowthSince the early 2000s, Moroccan economic growth has indeed picked up, but the OECD says that “its pace remains lower than that of middle-income countries,” reflecting lower growth in GDP per capita than in many other countries. According to OECD experts, national economic growth is not driven by productivity, but rather by the accumulation of capital. And despite the high level of investment,  with one of the highest rates of public investment in the world (30 percent), there has been no significant increase in growth. This striking contrast is explained by the OECD as being due to “stagnation of the level of productivity” along with the structure of the economy as a whole. Basically, the organization says, “the dynamism of Moroccan development is insufficient to achieve its ambition to join the emerging countries.” Boussaid: Moroccan economic model have worked well so farFor Boussaid, things should be put in their rightful context. Over a time lapse of 16 years, Morocco has made an impressive economic jump and managed to double its GDP. The minister concludes that the country’s economic model has worked well so far, but needs to be adapted to new national and regional challenges. For the minister, public indebtedness has actually increased, under the pressure of public investment which almost doubled from MAD 465 billion in 2010 to 884 billion in 2015. In this context, since the beginning of the global economic crisis in 2008, Morocco has nevertheless managed to maintain an average growth rate of 4 percent with a growth potential of 5 percent in the future.The OECD does not disagree. Despite a sustained growth of 5 percent per year, and notable successes in some sectors such as aeronautics and the automotive sector, “the Moroccan economy is struggling to capitalize the development of sectors capable of driving economic growth and generate employment,” explains the organization.As both Boussaid and Elalamy, the Minister of Industry and Trade, pointed out, the OECD agrees that the business climate has improved, but for the organization, many barriers still hamper the competitiveness of the private sector, such as “corruption, difficulties in obtaining financing or competition from the informal sector.” According to the OECD, these obstacles “prevent the country from seizing every opportunity to undertake a profound structural transformation” and “threaten, in the long term, the good positioning of Morocco abroad.” read more

16 July 2007A new study by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) showed that worldwide, countries are scaling up efforts to halt interpersonal violence and its health consequences. A new study by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) showed that worldwide, countries are scaling up efforts to halt interpersonal violence and its health consequences.Documenting advancements made since 2002, the report – entitled “Third Milestones of a Global Campaign for Violence Prevention 2007” – spotlights the accomplishments of numerous countries.According to the study, Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico and the United Kingdom have all published their first-ever national reports on violence and health, while Mozambique has developed systems to record details of violence-related deaths and injuries as well as assess the quality and availability of medical and legal services for sexual violence victims.“Globally, the greatest challenge to scaling up violence prevention efforts remains a lack of investment in scientific, large-scale outcome evaluation studies, especially from low- and middle-income countries, where both the burden of violence and the cost of failure to invest in effective prevention are highest,” noted Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Violence and Injury Prevention. “With those studies in hand, we would be well placed to scale up and globalize prevention.”The report also illustrated the impact of violence worldwide, noting that in 2002 – the latest year for which global estimates are available – roughly 1.6 million people died as a result of violence, with over 90 per cent of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.The report also observed that physical, sexual and psychological abuse threatens the health and well-being of millions of people globally on a daily basis. For people ages 15 to 44, suicide and homicide are the fifth and sixth leading causes of death, and between three and seven million adolescents and young adults receive hospital treatment yearly for violence-related injuries.Evidence reflects that a majority of cases of violence-related death and suffering is avoidable through such measures as parent training; home visitation services; reducing alcohol availability and access to firearms; helping high-risk adolescents complete their schooling; and changing cultural norms condoning the use of violence.At the three-day WHO “Milestones 2007” meeting kicking off tomorrow in Scotland, 200 top global experts will consider the progress made and how to face remaining challenges.“With an improved understanding about what works to prevent violence in families and communities, the violence prevention field has reached a critical turning point,” said Catherine Le Galès-Camus, WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. “Milestones 2007 is an opportunity to draw lessons from the good work being done in many countries and define ways to scale up implementation in countries around the world.” read more

The report, Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence, represents the first systematic study of global data on the prevalence of violence against women – both by partners and non-partners. Some 35 per cent of all women will experience either intimate partner or non-partner violence, according to the report, which was released today by the UN World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the South African Medical Research Council.It also finds that intimate partner violence is the most common type of violence against women, affecting 30 per cent of women worldwide, according to a WHO news release.“These findings send a powerful message that violence against women is a global health problem of epidemic proportions,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. “We also see that the world’s health systems can and must do more for women who experience violence.”The report details the impact of violence on the physical and mental health of women and girls, ranging from broken bones to pregnancy-related complications, mental problems and impaired social functioning.Among its key findings on partner violence was that globally, 38 per cent of all women who were murdered were killed by their intimate partners. Also, women who have experienced partner violence are almost twice as likely to experience depression or abuse alcohol. “This new data shows that violence against women is extremely common. We urgently need to invest in prevention to address the underlying causes of this global women’s health problem.” said Professor Charlotte Watts, from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.Fear of stigma prevents many women from reporting non-partner sexual violence, the survey finds. Other barriers to data collection include the fact that fewer countries collect this data than information about intimate partner violence, and that many surveys of this type of violence employ less sophisticated measurement approaches than those used in monitoring intimate partner violence. “The review brings to light the lack of data on sexual violence by perpetrators other than partners, including in conflict-affected settings,” said Naeemah Abrahams from the South African Medical Research Council. “We need more countries to measure sexual violence and to use the best survey instruments available.”The study highlights the need for all sectors to work together to eliminate tolerance for violence against women and to better support women who experience it. New WHO guidelines, launched with the report, aim to help countries improve their health sector’s capacity to respond to the problem. “The report findings show that violence greatly increases women’s vulnerability to a range of short- and long-term health problems; it highlights the need for the health sector to take violence against women more seriously,” said Claudia Garcia-Moreno of WHO. “In many cases this is because health workers simply do not know how to respond.”The guidelines stress the importance of training all levels of health workers to recognize when women may be at risk of partner violence and to know how to provide an appropriate response. They also point out that some health-care settings, such as antenatal services and HIV testing, may provide opportunities to support survivors of violence, provided certain minimum requirements are met.WHO will begin to work with countries in South-east Asia to implement the new recommendations at the end of June. read more

The schemes began in London but have since spread across the country 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. The scheme was first funded in the capital by Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police as part of an effort to slash the number of road deaths and injuries.Between 2015 and 2017, 1,381 children were injured in traffic collisions while travelling to school in London.Nineteen boroughs have now either trialled the scheme or are setting up their first sessions. Heidi Alexander, London’s deputy mayor for transport, said the initiative – also known as “Junior Roadwatch” – will help “raise awareness of the dangers of speeding, making our streets more welcoming places to spend time”.Tony Mannakee, from the Metropolitan Police, said he hoped the roadside shaming would make motorists “consider the implications of excessive speeds and encourage safer driving behaviour”.  In most cases, drivers have opted to endure a roadside ticking off by a pupil, who asks questions such as “why do you think the speed limit is 20mph on this road?” and “are you aware of the consequences of speeding”. Children from Morley Victoria Primary School in Leeds took a different approach when they worked with officers to use a speed gun – with speeding drivers being sent a ticket drawn by the pupils which reminded them to obey the law.  Children are being used by police to shame speeding drivers who have been pulled over – by asking them why they were travelling so fast.So-called “mini police” schemes send primary school pupils to monitor traffic with roadside policing units, arming them with speed guns to detect reckless motorists.Any driver stopped for speeding is given the option of accepting the traditional penalties or facing censure from children as young as eight, who remind them speeding can kill.It is thought the initiative – jointly run by the police and local authorities – is an effective means of deterring drivers from straying over the speed limit. More serious cases of speeding will not form part of the scheme and are still to be punished in the usual manner.Trials of the child-led crackdown began in London but have since spread to Hertfordshire, West Yorkshire and Northumbria. The schemes began in London but have since spread across the countryCredit:Transport for London read more

first_imgENDA KENNY HAS announced that a referendum on same-sex marriage will be held in the spring of next year.Speaking in the Dáil today during Order of Business, the Taoiseach confirmed the vote will take place within the first four months of 2015.Responding to a question from Gerry Adams, the Fine Gael leader said, “The referendum will be in spring of next year. We haven’t named a date yet.“There are a number of other legal issues that need to be dealt with, including elements of adoption which are necessary.We’d like to have that cleared before we put the marriage equality referendum. It will be in the spring of next year and the government will decide a date in due course.The coalition has committed to calling a vote on marriage equality during its term in office.Speaking while still Justice Minister, Alan Shatter had explained that both parties wanted the vote to be about “one very simple thing”, which is why they wanted to ensure legislation about adoption and other family matters were looked at first.“One simple thing… Which is whether people of same sex should be allowed celebrate a ceremony that’s called marriage as opposed to a ceremony called civil partnership. There is no other issue that will arise,” Shatter told a Marriage Equality conference.“So as we head into 2015, there will be one issue and one issue only: Do you believe individuals should be allowed to enter same-sex marriages or should we discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation and deny that to them?”The Taoiseach has also said he will “canvass for it when it comes”.A Red C poll in November last year found that 76% of voters will support the referendum.Today’s announcement has been welcomed by a number of groups campaigning for marriage equality.“The referendum will be the final step in the remarkable 20 year journey from gay law reform to full Constitutional equality for lesbian and gay people in Ireland,” said Gay and Lesbian Equality Network chairperson Kieran Rose.Marriage Equality said it was confident people with “overwhelmingly support” the extension of civil marriage rights to gay and lesbian people.“Social attitudes in Ireland have changed profoundly – and for the better – over the last twenty years and the ICCL is confident that the vast majority of Irish voters will enthusiastically embrace this opportunity to play their part in creating a more equal society,” added Mark Kelly from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.Related: Northern Ireland rejects same sex marriage for third time in 18 monthsColumn: Are you frustrated by the number of ‘gay’ stories in the media? Then read on …Alan Shatter: ‘The roof hasn’t fallen in’ because of civil partnershiplast_img read more

first_imgWest Ham United goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski insists that “it always takes time to gel” following the club’s losing start to the new seasonManuel Pellegrini’s new-look side suffered a humbling 4-0 defeat at Liverpool the previous weekend before losing 2-1 at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.£93.47m has been spent on seven new signings this summer with two other players joining the club on a free transfer.But Fabianski, who joined from Swansea City for £7.20m this summer, insists that the West Ham supporters must be patient.“We have to keep looking forward and keep working with this group of players because obviously there are big changes and it always takes time to gel,” he told the club website.Harry Maguire, Manchester UnitedSolskjaer praises Harry Maguire after Man United’s 1-0 win Andrew Smyth – September 14, 2019 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer singled out Harry Maguire for praise after helping Manchester United keep a clean sheet in their 1-0 win over Leicester City.“Hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later.“From my perspective, every time we had the ball in possession, we just wanted to go straight forward and maybe we have to be more balanced in some situations and take our time a little bit with playing our football and keeping possession, rather than just trying to get it forward.“If we relax a bit more and take care of the ball a bit better, then we will benefit. We are a new group of players and it will take time, but hopefully it will click soon. I hope the fans will understand the situation and I think they do.“It’s important that they are supportive in every single game and keep believing in the team, because this group of players really has something quite good in terms of quality and, with a little more work, we will see the effects on the pitch.”The Hammers will now meet Fabianski’s former club Arsenal at the Emirates this Saturday.last_img read more

first_imgEY has introduced a return-to-work programme to help individuals who have taken a career break to re-enter the workplace.The EY Reconnect initiative will support experienced professionals who have been out of the workplace for between two and 10 years.The 12-week programme will include training, mentoring and coaching opportunities. Participants will work on client projects and have access to EY’s people networks over the 12-week period, such as the organisation’s Parents’ Network, Women’s Network, Black Network and Disability Network.The scheme is open to those who have manager-level experience and above. Twelve applicants will take part in the programme, which will commence in September 2016 across the UK.Anne-Marie Balfe, global talent leader, people advisory services at EY, said: “It is a commercial imperative for our business to recruit and retain the brightest and best people.“EY Reconnect will help us to identify exceptional talent in the market, providing a supportive environment and a development opportunity for those who perhaps have been deterred from applying for roles.”last_img read more

first_img • $399 Nest’s alarm system is expensive, but secure Aug 31 • Best smart light bulbs for 2019 (plus switches, light strips, accessories and more) See It $427 Nest Google Assistant Amazon Google Dell Aug 31 • The best coffee grinders you can buy right now $399 Post a comment 1:42 CNET may get a commission from retail offers. See It 0 HP Aug 31 • Alexa can tell you if someone breaks into your house Share your voice Nest Secure Josh Miller/CNET Google Assistant is upping its security credentials. Starting Monday, you can use Google’s digital helper to control your Nest Secure system. Even better, you can talk to your Google Assistant through the Nest Guard that acts as the system’s centerpiece. You’ll be able to arm your home security system with a voice command. You can also talk to the Nest Guard hub and give any command you’d give to a Google Assistant equipped smart speaker such as the Google Home. Given that Google owns Nest, this integration makes a lot of sense. Arming your system with your voice is an obvious upgrade. Surprisingly, you won’t actually be able to disarm your system with your voice. You’ll still need to enter your pin into your Nest Guard for that. I understand the caution behind the limitation as Google’s voice recognition can be easily tricked. Still, giving your pin with a voice command would have been a nice option.  CNET Smart Home reading • Google Assistant can lock down your home with Nest Secure integration We liked the Nest Secure system when we reviewed it, but thought the price of the $500 starter kit was too steep. Now that the Nest Guard can double as a voice controlled hub, that will help its versatility. It’s also a nice advantage for Google over its main competitor in the smart home. Amazon owns Ring, which has a similar security system called Ring Alarm Security. As of yet, Amazon’s assistant Alexa can’t control Ring’s system.  Tags Mentioned Above Nest Secure Smart Home See It Now playing: Watch this: Review • Nest Secure is a solid home alarm system at a high price Aug 30 • Battling bot vacs: iRobot Roomba S9+ vs Neato Botvac D7 Connected $399 Best Buy CNET Smart Home See it See Alllast_img read more

first_imgJaved Akhtar says MS Dhoni should not retireINDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty ImagesAfter Lata Mangeshkar, Javed Akhtar also expressed his view on the ongoing debate and rumours of MS Dhoni planning to retire from International Cricket.Like the veteran singer, Akhtar also feels that Dhoni has a lot of cricket left in him, and pointed out reasons why he should not think about retirement now.The popular lyricist and writer opined that Dhoni’s experience is an advantage for the team, and one should not even talk about his retirement.”As a middle-order batsman or a WK M S Dhoni is a totally dependable n trustworthy. Virat is graceful enough to accept that Dhoni’s understanding of game is an advantage for the team.One can see that a lot of cricket is still left in Him . Why even talk about his retirement,” he tweeted.Just a few days ago, Lata Mangeshkar had tweeted, requesting the popular Indian player not to even think about retirement.”Namaskar M S Dhoni ji. Aaj kal main sun rahi hun ke aap retire hona chahte hain. Kripaya aap aisa mat sochiye. Desh ko aap ke khel ki zaroorat hai aur ye meri bhi request hai ki retirement ka vichar bhi aap mann mein mat laayiye.” (“These days, I am hearing that you want to retire. Please don’t think like this. The country needs your skills and it is my request also that you don’t allow the thought of retirement to enter your mind,” she had written.Dhoni’s performance in the World Cup has been much scrutinised, as many criticised him for allegedly not scoring runs at the required pace. After he failed to pull India to the finals, many started opining that he should retire now. However, Dhoni has not made any official statement on this regard.last_img read more

first_imgGovernment of the People`s Republic of Bangladesh, Employees.The election commission and the local government division got new secretaries on Sunday after seven senior officials were transferred and assigned new roles, reports UNB.The public administration ministry issued a circular in this regard.Technical and Madrasa Education Division secretary Mohammad Alamgir has been made secretary to the election commission. He has been replaced by chairman (acting secretary) of Land Reform Board Munshi Shahabuddin Ahmed.Former EC secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed has been moved to the Local Government Division as secretary.Member (secretary) of planning commission Subir Kishore Chowdhury has been made chairman (secretary) of Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (EPRC). EPRC chairman (secretary) Shahin Ahmed Chowdhury has been transferred to the planning commission as member (secretary).Besides, labour and employment ministry acting secretary Ummul Hasna has been made chairman (acting secretary) to the Land Reform Board.KM Ali Azam, commissioner (additional secretary) of Dhaka Division, is now the acting secretary of labour and employment ministry.last_img

first_img 00:00 /01:02 Listen To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code: Laura IsenseeMore than 500 students returned to their home campus at Hilliard Elementary, after a $5 million renovation to fix damage from Hurricane Harvey.A year ago, Harvey left as much as four feet of floodwater inside Hilliard Elementary in Northeast Houston, soaking books and strewing debris throughout classrooms.Houston’s school board president Rhonda Skillern-Jones surveyed the damage back then. “I was one of the ones in tears last year when we came here, and when I walked in this morning I almost had tears again. Because it’s 110 percent different,” Skillern-Jones said.For Hilliard’s school community, back-to-school was a special kind of homecoming — a return to their home campus.Hilliard’s gotten a $5 million dollar facelift, including new furniture, new books, some fresh paint and new floors.center_img Last year, its nearly 600 students had to attend another campus. Assistant principal Bathsheba Nash said she’d meet families at the original campus and ride the bus with them to the other facility.“We came every day with a spirit of hope,” Nash said. “We believed the work could be done, and now I’m going to say we’re here and we’re going to continue to do that work.”Despite the challenges, Hilliard Elementary turned around its academics last year. It had previously missed academic standard’s for three years in a row and was placed on the state’s watch list. Last month, it made a passing grade.“You reap what you sow,” said Skillern-Jones. “And our people, our students and our teachers have sown good seeds in good soil. And that is the reason why we are where we are right now.”Laura IsenseeInterim Superintendent Grenita Lathan congratulates Hilliard Elementary’s assistant principal, Bathsheba Nash, for the resilience her students have shown.Things still aren’t totally back normal, though, for the community surrounding Hilliard. State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, said that her office has talked with residents who are still living in moldy homes. Houston’s Interim superintendent Grenita Lathan said that the district will advocate for Texas lawmakers should use the state’s rainy day fund for continued Harvey relief for schools.” I think we are forgetting that we were struggling as a district, as a city and as a state prior to Harvey. Harvey compounded it,” Lathan said. “So, I would say, no. Not only are our students not back to normal, our staff are not back. People are still experiencing trauma if it rains.” Laura IsenseeNearly 600 students returned to their home campus at Hilliard Elementary a year after it suffered extensive damage from Harvey. X Sharelast_img read more

first_imgYesterday, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) published a proposal to ban cryptocurrency mining with a reason stating that crypto mining is a waste of valuable resources. The team is waiting for public feedback over this proposal and they also indicated that “the crypto-mining ban could take effect as soon as they’re formally issued”, the Bloomberg reports. The proposal also includes a “revised list–first published in 2011–of industries it wants to encourage, restrict or eliminate”, Reuters reports. The public can comment on the draft latest by May 7. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin use specialized computers that use a huge amount of energy. According to the South China Morning Post, China’s coal-rich regions, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia have become popular destinations for crypto-miners looking for cheap electricity. “It’s estimated that as much as 74 percent of global crypto mining is occurring in China, a place where it’s also the most carbon-intensive”, Gizmodo reports. A recent report in Nature Sustainability says crypto mining emits anywhere between 3 million and 15 million tons of carbon dioxide globally. In 2017, China banned initial coin offerings and also put a halt to virtual currency trading. In 2018, Chinese officials outlined proposals to discourage crypto mining. Jehan Chu, a managing partner at blockchain investment firm Kenetic, said, “The NDRC’s move is in line overall with China’s desire to control different layers of the rapidly growing crypto industry, and does not yet signal a major shift in policy.” According to Reuters, “The draft for a revised list added cryptocurrency mining, including that of bitcoin, to more than 450 activities the NDRC said should be phased out as they did not adhere to relevant laws and regulations, were unsafe, wasted resources or polluted the environment.” An executive who works closely with Chinese mining firms told Wired, “although the ban was widely expected to move forward, miners expect it will take years for the government to fully rein in their operations.” To know more on this news in detail, head over to Bloomberg. Read Next Crypto-cash is missing from the wallet of dead cryptocurrency entrepreneur Gerald Cotten – find it, and you could get $100,000 FOSDEM 2019: Designing better cryptographic mechanisms to avoid pitfalls – Talk by Maximilian Blochberger Google expands its Blockchain search tools, adds six new cryptocurrencies in BigQuery Public Datasetslast_img read more

first_imgRelated posts:Drug traffickers who cooperate with the US government have it pretty good – too good, watchdog says Military helicopter shot down as drug violence surges in western Mexico Mexico drug war shootout leaves dozens dead Fabio Lobo: Honduras’ drug trafficking presidential son? In April of this year, two Drug Enforcement Administration task force members stopped a man named Issa Serieh at Los Angeles International Airport, asked him some questions, and seized $30,750 in cash off of him. They sent him on his way without charging him with a crime.The task force members “were in a LAX terminal gate monitoring passengers arriving on American Airlines flight number 2220 which had traveled from Chicago,” according to a complaint filed last month at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. And why were they monitoring that particular gate? Because “Chicago is a known consumer city for narcotics and Los Angeles is a known source city where narcotics can be purchased,” the complaint explains.That fact, plus the fact that Serieh exited the plane with “a small backpack over his shoulder,” are the only reasons given for why the agents initiated the encounter that would lead to over $30,000 in cash being taken from Serieh.We don’t know why Serieh was carrying the cash. Earlier this year, he was arrested in Nebraska for driving one of two cars that police officers found 128 pounds of marijuana in. But the DEA task force members didn’t know this when they stopped him in Los Angeles. The complaint states they identified him as Issa Serieh later, during their questioning. The only reasons they give for initial suspicion are the backpack, and the flight from Chicago to L.A.For his part, Serieh maintains his innocence. A court declaration filed by his lawyer states that the money was loaned to him by his uncle, and that he was stopped without probable cause. In a phone interview, Serieh’s lawyer Peter Herrick said the agents stopped Serieh solely on the basis of where his flight originated from, and that they took his money when they didn’t like how he answered questions about where he was going and how he planned to get there.“Their preconceived notions of the way people should do things is way off the charts,” Herrick said. He said that information about Serieh’s previous marijuana arrest was “so irrelevant to this case that I didn’t even look into it.” He said that the government shouldn’t be able to take a person’s money away without first convicting them of a crime. In this case, Serieh wasn’t charged with anything.This reporter reached out to the DEA for comment but they didn’t immediately respond.The episode illustrates the broad types of behaviors that drug cops base their suspicions on. The Chicago to Los Angeles air route is the fourth-busiest in the United States, serving roughly 3 million passengers per year.But Los Angeles is part of a federally-designated “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.” So is Chicago. So are New York, D.C., Houston and pretty much every major city in the U.S. Overall, nearly two-thirds of the nation’s residents live in one of these “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.”There are almost certainly more drug traffickers active in these areas than in other areas of the country. These areas are also home to a larger population.The DEA’s net of suspicion is extremely broad. If you stop and question enough of the 3 million people who fly from Chicago to Los Angeles, eventually you will get lucky and stumble upon someone who might be involved with drug crimes. But you have to do an awful lot of fishing, and of questioning completely innocent people, before you make that one catch.© 2015, The Washington Post Facebook Commentslast_img read more

first_imgHyatt HotelsPhuo QuocresortsThe Unbound Collection by HyattVietnam The Unbound Collection by Hyatt has opened its first property in Southeast Asia – the 114-room Nam Nghi Phu Quoc on Phu Quoc island in Vietnam.Half of the island is within the confines of the national park and UNESCO World Heritage-designated Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest biosphere reserves in Southeast Asia. The reserve covers an extensive area of tropical rain forests, coral reefs and wetlands and is home to hundreds of species of plants and wild animals.“We are delighted to bring The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand to Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s fast-emerging resort destination,” said Julian Moore, general manager, Nam Nghi Phu Quoc. “We look forward to welcoming guests onto this pristine island surrounded by breathtaking nature and providing them with an extraordinary stay.”Accommodation is comprised of 51 villas and 63 guestrooms, with four dining venues, and the exclusive Rock Island Club, located on its own island just a short boat ride from the resort, ideal for soaking in the sun by day and enjoying vibrant music and handcrafted cocktails by night.The resort’s also includes the An Mai Spa, an indoor fitness centre, swimming pool, Kids’ Club, and MICE spaces.last_img read more

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