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Lyndhurst Residential Home | We always recommend that before selecting or making any important decisions about a care home you take the time to check that it is right for your or your relative's particular circumstances. Any description and indication of services and facilities on this page have been provided to us by the relevant care home and we cannot take any responsibility for any errors or other inaccuracies. However, please email us on the address you will find on our About us page if you think any of the information on this page is missing and / or incorrect. |
BRIEF-Notoria Serwis Q4 net result turns to profit of 23,567 zlotys | Hong Kong stocks touch 5-month highs after Wall St's record close
Feb 15 Hong Kong stocks hit a five-month high on Wednesday, after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's comments on the U.S. economy and rising interest rate hike expectations sent Wall Street to record highs. |
U.N. court hands Costa Rica territorial victories over Nicaragua | THE HAGUE/SAN JOSE (Reuters) - Costa Rica claimed victory over Nicaragua on Friday, after the United Nations’ highest court awarded Costa Rica disputed territory along the coastal border shared by the two Central American countries.
Nicaragua was ordered by the International Court of Justice in The Hague to remove a military base from a contested coastal area near the San Juan river, which the judges said violated Costa Rican sovereignty.
The court’s panel of 15 international judges also found that Costa Rica has sovereignty over the “whole northern part of Isla Portillos, including the coast,” but excluding Harbour Head Lagoon.
Costa Rica’s President Luis Guillermo Solis called the decision “historic,” while Foreign Minister Manuel Gonzalez said it was very close to what the country had asked for.
In a separate case heard at the court earlier on Friday, Nicaragua was ordered to pay Costa Rica nearly $379,000 dollars - less than it had asked for - in reparations for environmental damage to parts of its wetlands at the mouth of the disputed San Juan river.
FILE PHOTO: Environmental officials inspect Isla Portillos, a 16-square-km swath of Caribbean wetland at the center of a dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua April 5, 2011. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate/File Photo
Costa Rica should be compensated by April 2 for damage caused, the cost of environmental restoration, expenses and interest, the court said.
“The amount is not what we hoped for, but we accept fully and respectfully what the court decided,” Gonzalez said. “Nicaragua has a valuable opportunity to rebuild trust between the two countries and close the chapters that have distanced us in recent years.”
FILE PHOTO: Three representatives of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands look for environmental damage on Isla Portillos, a 16-square-km swath of Caribbean wetland at the center of a dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua April 5, 2011. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate/File Photo
Nicaragua’s government called the environmental verdict a “major defeat for Costa Rica” in a statement. It did not comment on the other cases.
As part of the border settlement, the court drew a new maritime boundary between the states, who have had rival claims since 2002, when Nicaragua published maps detailing oil concessions. Some of those were in waters claimed by Costa Rica.
Related Coverage U.N. court orders Nicaragua to remove military camp in dispute with Costa Rica
Costa Rica had filed the suit in 2014, asking the court to determine its borders with Nicaragua in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.
In 2010, Nicaragua sent soldiers to open an artificial waterway to divert water from the San Juan River that divides both countries to a nearby Nicaraguan lake, in what Costa Rica saw as a move to shorten its territory. Nicaragua said it was dredging a natural waterway. |
Dallas Fire-Rescue Engine Hit in Crash | Dallas Fire-Rescue Engine 54 was hit while working a prior crash on the Interstate 20 frontage road Sunday Morning DFR Engine 54 was hit at about 3:30 a.m. on the frontage road of Interstate 20 near Bonnie View Road. The engine was blocking off a lane from a crash that had already occurred.
Start the conversation, or Read more at NBC Dallas. |
Seguin leads Stars to rout of Wild | Tyler Seguin had one goal and two assists and Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov both collected one goal and two points as the Dallas Stars blasted the Minnesota Wild 6-1 Saturday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The clubs went into the night’s action holding the Western Conference’s two wild-card spots, and early indications were it would be a close, tight-checking affair, but the Stars blew the game wide open with a four-goal outburst in the second period to the delight of the home crowd.
Mattias Janmark opened the scoring with a power-play goal, deflecting John Klingberg’s point shot past Wild goalie Alex Stalock while he and Brett Ritchie were setting screens. Then Stephen Johns doubled the lead just 39 seconds later by stealing the puck from Nino Niederreiter on his own side of the red line and, after racing down the ice, ripping home a short-side slapper.
Benn added another man-advantage tally a couple of minutes later with a johnny-on-the spot tap-in on a loose puck during a scramble, and Seguin completed a pretty three-way passing play after Radulov led an odd-man rush and included Benn to make it a 4-0 affair. The four goals came within a six-minute span.
Radulov and Dan Hamhuis rounded out the scoring for the Stars, who are on an 8-3-1 run and keeping the third spot in the Central Division within reach. Goalie Kari Lehtonen stopped 29 shots in the Dallas net.
Jason Zucker scored for the Wild, who lost in regulation time for just the second time in 10 outings.
Stalock was pulled after two periods, the victim of four goals on 29 shots, and replaced by Devan Dubnyk, who stopped seven of nine pucks fired his way.
--Field Level Media |
BRIEF-Guorui Properties says March contracted sales of about RMB1,096 mln | Hong Kong stocks fall as rates rise, Shanghai slips on nagging China slowdown fears
SHANGHAI, June 15 Hong Kong stocks fell to a three-week low on Thursday as borrowing costs in the city looked set to rise after a U.S. rate hike overnight, while shares in China slid on persistent fears that economic growth will soon start to cool. |
Paul John Wendel | There's always a competition among expectant mothers to deliver the first baby in the new year. Each year's firstborn gets a place in history -- name and picture in the newspaper and, nowadays, wide social media exposure.
Start the conversation, or Read more at NWAonline. |
Love Island newbie Mike shapes up to be the villa bad boy | No contestant is safe in the villa, with a constant carousel of newbies shaking things up and moving things around.
So Love Island stars will no doubt be quaking in their boots at the arrival of semi-professional footballer Mike, 24, who insists he has 'no loyalties' to the other boys in the house - as he has set his sights on a selection of taken ladies already.
The hunky Londoner admitted he will make no efforts to woo the ladies: 'I would never be that guy to spend money on a girl, show her romance and start falling for her, and then you find out a month later she’s been with lots of other guys'.
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Magic Mike! Love Island stars will no doubt be quaking in their boots at the arrival of semi-professional footballer Mike, 24, who insists he has 'no loyalties' to the other boys in the house - as he has set his sights on a selection of taken ladies already
Temperatures are soaring in the villa as the couples are pairing off, with Tuesday night's episode seeing Jessica Shears, Dom Lever, Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay get steamy on-screen in shocking scenes.
It seems Mike will not take kindly to a woman who has various partners as he revealed the reason he would not treat a woman romantically is down to a fear he would find out she's 'been with lots of guys'.
He revealed: 'I’m not romantic very often because I would never be that guy to spend money on a girl, show her romance and start falling for her...
'Then you find out a month later she’s been with lots of other guys. I’m very particular. I’m very all or nothing. I won’t splash cash on girls I don’t really know.'
One of the girls: The hunky Londoner admitted he will make no efforts to woo the ladies: 'I would never be that guy to spend money on a girl, show her romance and start falling for her, and then you find out a month later she’s been with lots of other guys'
Happy days: Temperatures are soaring in the villa as the couples are pairing off, with Tuesday night's episode seeing Jessica Shears, Dom Lever, Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay get steamy on-screen in shocking scenes
He admits his sights are set on Jess, Amber and Olivia Attwood - two out of three of whom are coupled - yet this is no problem for Mike.
He said: 'Looks wise, I’d say Jessica, Olivia and Amber. But personality is really important – I couldn’t be with Jessica if we were having boring conversation. I want to have a laugh and enjoy the girl’s company.'
It is no concern of Mike's that the girls are taken: 'I have no loyalties. I’m not going in there to try to throw my weight around.
'They’ve only known each other for a week, so it’s not like they are in proper relationships yet. It’s the name of the game. If I want to go and speak to a bird, I’ll do it. As far as loyalties go, I don’t know these guys from Adam.'
Not bothered: It is no concern of Mike's that the girls are taken: 'I have no loyalties. I’m not going in there to try to throw my weight around'
Additionally, the handsome hopeful admits he is a cut above the other contestants: 'I just think I look different to all of them. Tall, dark and handsome – which is what most of the girls have said they are looking for.'
Explaining his reasoning for being in the villa, he said: 'It’s a one off experience – it’s an amazing villa, with good looking guys and girls. It looks really fun and this is the first time in my life I haven’t had any commitments. I don’t have a girlfriend, and I feel like I’m mature enough to do it.'
When Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen became engaged after last year's season and former couple Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey are expecting their first child, it is easy to wonder if Mike is ready for commitment.
Wahey! He admits his sights are set on Jess, Amber and Olivia Attwood - two out of three of whom are coupled - yet this is no problem for Mike
Living it up: He said: 'Right now, I’m 24 and I’ve partied a lot, and I still want to party. But if I was to meet the right girl, there’s no way I’d rule it out'
He said: 'Right now, I’m 24 and I’ve partied a lot, and I still want to party. But if I was to meet the right girl, there’s no way I’d rule it out.
'I’m only human and if you spend so much time with the girl and start to develop feelings, then it could happen. Definitely staying together within the year but I think I’m too young for kids.'
On heartbreak, the hunk said: 'I don’t think I’ve had my heart broken. I might have broken hearts but it’s like any relationship – most don’t end up nicely.'
The ITV2 show will be Mike's first taste of fame, as he revealed: 'I’ve never done any TV before, but with the football I’ve played professionally and l’ve played for my country. I was in the newspapers in Cyprus when I scored a winner in a game.' |
Beckerman's late tally leads RSL past Houston | Luis Silva and Kyle Beckerman each scored to lift Real Salt Lake to a 2-1 victory over the visiting Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.
RSL (6-6-1) won its second straight match and earned back-to-back victories for the first time this season. Salt Lake also won for the fifth time in six home matches.
Alberth Elis knocked home the lone goal for Houston after halftime. The defeat snapped a four-match unbeaten streak for the Dynamo (5-4-3) and gave the club its only loss in May.
Both teams tallied 12 shots. RSL controlled the ball for longer stretches, though, finishing with a 56 to 44 percent possession advantage.
Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis came up with a pair of early saves on Sebastian Saucedo to keep RSL off the board for much of the first half. Willis denied Saucedo's header off a cross from Brooks Lennon in the 5th minute. Then he swatted down a right footer from Saucedo in the 22nd minute.
Salt Lake finally broke through in the 34th minute. Silva put RSL on the board when he knocked in an uncontested header from the middle of the box after latching onto a cross from Saucedo.
Tomas Martinez blasted a potential equalizer down the middle in the 42nd minute. RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando batted it down on a well-timed reaction save to keep the Dynamo off the board going into halftime.
Salt Lake came close to taking a two-goal lead in the 67th minute. Damir Kreilach blasted a right-footer from outside the box that pinged off the post.
Houston finally leveled the score in the 75th minute. Elis came up with the equalizer when he knifed through the 6-yard box and headed down a cross from Romell Quioto.
RSL regained the lead in the 83rd minute when Beckerman blasted home the go-ahead goal. The veteran midfielder tracked down a corner kick and threaded it inside the far post.
--Field Level Media |
Lady Gaga enjoys Billboard boost after headlining Super Bowl | Singer Lady Gaga performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas, U.S., February 5, 2017. REUTERS/Robert Seale
LOS ANGELES Lady Gaga soared back up the weekly U.S. Billboard 200 album chart on Monday after a flawless performance at the Super Bowl halftime show gave her catalog of music a sales boost.
Gaga's "Joanne," which was released in October, climbed more than 60 spots on the chart to No. 2, with sales of 74,000 units, according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan.
Gaga gave a solo performance at the Feb. 5 National Football League Super Bowl championship, singing a medley of hits after flying off the roof of the stadium to the stage while suspended on cables.
The football game and halftime performance were watched on television by more than 110 million viewers.
Gaga's set also provided a massive boost for her earlier albums. Her 2008 record "The Fame" reentered the chart at No. 6 with 38,000 units sold, while her 2011 album "Born This Way" landed at No. 25 with 17,000 units sold.
Gaga, 30, topped the Digital Songs chart, which measures online song sales, with her new track "Million Reasons" selling 149,000 copies. Her earlier hits such as "Born This Way," "Bad Romance" and "Poker Face" also experienced big boosts on the singles chart.
The Billboard 200 album chart tallies units from album sales, song sales (10 songs equal one album) and streaming activity (1,500 streams equal one album).
Despite Gaga's Super Bowl boost, California rapper Big Sean took the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart this week with "I Decided," which sold 151,000 units in its first week. It ousted last week's chart-topper, hip hop trio Migos' "Culture," which dropped to No. 3.
New albums in the top ten of the Billboard 200 chart include country singer Reba McEntire's "Sing it Now: Songs of Faith" at No. 4, the soundtrack to the hit Broadway play "Dear Evan Hansen" at No. 8 and "The RCA-List, Vol. 4," a compilation of current hip hop hits, at No. 10.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Alan Crosby) |
OpenDoor opens up trading in illiquid U.S. Treasuries | By John McCrank
NEW YORK, June 14 (Reuters) - In the first auction for old, illiquid Treasury bonds on the startup platform OpenDoor Trading, two investment firms managed to meet right in the middle of prices that buyers were offering and sellers were asking, an unusual occurrence that drew cheers from the executive suite.
"The room erupted," OpenDoor Chief Executive Officer Susan Estes said in an interview. "The ideal trade on our platform happened on the very first trade."
In six weeks since that launch, OpenDoor has taken in around $60 billion worth of orders for "off-the-run" U.S. Treasury bonds, those issued before the most recent offering, along with inflation-protected securities, or TIPS. Around $2.5 billion in trades have been matched.
Liquidity in off-the-runs has declined in recent years, with post-financial crisis regulations requiring banks to hold more capital and pull back from market-making activities.
That has made it harder and more expensive for investors to buy or sell off-the-run Treasuries, which comprise 98 percent of the $13.8 trillion U.S. Treasury market but less than one-third of average daily volumes.
"The majority of volume is now concentrated in on-the-runs, with a reasonable amount traded by bots," Estes said, referring to automated trading.
Off-the-run volumes are about where they were 13 or 14 years ago, even though the overall market is now three times as large, she said.
OpenDoor is trying to solve the liquidity problem by bringing buyers and sellers together and automating a process that has historically been low-tech.
Typically, a portfolio manager interested in a particular Treasury issue will call a large Wall Street bond dealer like JPMorgan Chase & Co or Goldman Sachs Group Inc and ask for a price. Dealers then scour the market and come back with a quote that includes an extra spread on top of the market price, so they can collect income on the trade.
OpenDoor automates that process so pension funds, hedge funds, insurance companies, trading companies, central banks and dealers can trade anonymously with each other in blind auctions.
OpenDoor charges a transaction fee to end-users to participate, but its transaction analysis has shown that buyers and sellers are getting better prices than they would with traditional methods, said Estes, who previously ran Treasury desks at Deutsche Bank AG and Morgan Stanley.
So far, six dealers are trading on OpenDoor for their own accounts, along with financial institutions representing $6.5 trillion in assets under management (AUM), she said. Another three dealers and accounts representing $14 trillion in AUM are in the final stages of connecting.
Order sizes on OpenDoor are averaging nearly $60 million and trades are averaging north of $25 million, with the busiest day volume-wise at $650 million, she said. (Reporting by John McCrank; Editing by David Gregorio and Cynthia Osterman) |
Yemen's Houthis target coalition warship, agency reports | DUBAI (Reuters) - The armed Houthi movement and their foes in Yemen's civil war, the Saudi-led coalition, on Saturday gave conflicting accounts of a Houthi attempt to attack shipping in the Red Sea port of al-Mokha.
The Houthi-controlled state news agency SABA said the Houthi navy targeted and hit a warship belonging to the coalition inside the port.
The coalition spokesman, Colonel Turki al-Malki, said the Houthis attempted to attack al-Mokha port in the early hours of Saturday, using a remote-controlled boat packed with explosives.
"The coalition forces detected the boat three miles off the port, while it was sailing at 39 knots, and was intercepted by the coalition defense and diverted from its initial trajectory," al-Malki said in a statement sent to Reuters.
He did not give further details.
The SABA news agency, quoting a Houthi military source, said: "The Yemeni navy and coastguards targeted one of the warships belonging to the invasion and aggression forces inside al-Mokha port and hit it with precision."
The attack would raise further concerns for shipping in the narrow Bab al-Mandab waterway at the entrance to the Red Sea, a major choke point in the world oil trade.
Incidents are frequent there. Last month, unknown assailants attacked an oil tanker and fired rocket-propelled grenades before breaking off their assault.
Yemen's civil war pits the internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia and its allies, against the Houthis and forces loyal to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The war has already killed more than 10,000 and displaced millions, with around 500,000 cholera cases reported in the country since the worst outbreak in decades started in April. |
BRIEF-India's IDFC Bank March-Qtr Profit Falls About 76 Pct | April 24 (Reuters) - IDFC Bank Ltd:
* MARCH QUARTER NET PROFIT 419.3 MILLION RUPEES VERSUS PROFIT OF 1.76 BILLION RUPEES LAST YEAR
* MARCH QUARTER INTEREST EARNED 22.81 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 22.23 BILLION RUPEES LAST YEAR
* MARCH QUARTER PROVISIONS AND CONTIGENCIES 2.42 BILLION RUPEES VERSUS 48 MILLION RUPEES LAST YEAR
* MARCH QUARTER GROSS NPA 3.31 PERCENT VERSUS 5.62 PERCENT PREVIOUS QUARTER
* MARCH QUARTER NET NPA 1.69 PERCENT VERSUS 2.52 PERCENT PREVIOUS QUARTER
* RECOMMENDED FINAL DIVIDEND OF 0.75 RUPEES PER SHARE Source text - bit.ly/2HODJmZ Further company coverage: |
Wild baby panda drowns in floodwaters in China | A wild panda cub has drowned after a nature reserve in south-west China was flooded.
The body of the six-month-old cub was reportedly found yesterday in the Heishuihe Nature Reserve in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan Province.
Part of the 153-square-mile (398-square-kilometre) park was inundated by floodwaters after rainstorms battered Chengdu on Sunday and Monday.
Tragic: The body of the baby panda was found yesterday in China's Heishuihe Nature Reserve by a park ranger. The dead cub was discovered on the shore of a river in Xiaohezi Valley
The cub's corpse was discovered by park ranger Zhang Xueliang at around 1.30pm on the shore of a river in the Xiaohezi Valley, reported local newspaper Sichuan Daily.
Park ranger Zhang immediately reported the incident to the management, and the cub's body was sent to the Chengdu Wildlife Rescue Centre for examination.
An autopsy showed that the dead panda was female, six months old and 14.25kg (31 pounds) in weight, according Sichuan Daily, which cited a statement from the Chengdu Forestry and Garden Bureau.
Sad: Authority said the cub had fallen into the flooded river by accident before being drowned
The cub was also found to have bleeding beneath the skin on the head as well as bleeding on the chin and in the spleen.
A large number of air bubbles were found in its lungs.
The bureau confirmed the panda's cause of death as accidental drowning.
Situated on the outskirt of Chengdu, the Heishuihe Nature Reserve is home to precious wildlife species, such as pandas and golden snub-nosed monkeys.
Officials suspected that the river in the reserve flooded on Monday due to heavy rain and the cub fell into the floodwaters by accident before drowning and being washed to the shore.
Chengdu was battered by heavy rain on Sunday and Monday. The above picture shows an aerial view of residential houses and fields submerged by floodwater in Chengdu on July 2
Chengdu, which has 16 million residents, was battered by rainstorms on Sunday and Monday
Farmland was flooded after heavy rain pelted down on Chengdu for two days earlier this week
Chengdu, a metropolis of 16 million residents, was battered by severe rainstorms between 8pm on Sunday and 4pm on Monday, reported People's Daily Online.
Parts of the city were engulfed by floodwaters as pictures show residential houses and farmland submerged in muddy water.
More than 10,000 travellers were stranded at the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on Monday after flights were delayed, cancelled or diverted due to the extreme weather, reported China News.
Chinese rescuers evacuate local residents in floodwater in Shou'an town, Chengdu, on July 2 |
Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang Lives On for Another Year | The 2018 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustangs arrive in dealerships this fall unchanged from the 2017 version. The only update is the addition of three new paint colors, which include Kona Blue, Orange Fury, and Lead Foot Gray.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Motor Trend. |
Jeff Hornacek says he needs to see max effort from his Knicks | Entering a month the Knicks have deemed season-defining, Jeff Hornacek indicated there's a new standard for his veterans: play hard or somebody will do it for you. The coach's inspiration for his effort message to the media was Saturday's defeat to the Rockets, a hard-fought game that the Knicks attempted without Kristaps Porzingis, Courtney Lee and, for the entire second half, Carmelo Anthony.
Start the conversation, or Read more at New York Daily News. |
BRIEF-Ni Hsin resources says redesignation of Datin Ida Suzaini Binti Abdullah to non executive director | UPDATE 3-Nestle takes food price rises in its stride
ZURICH, Aug 9 Nestle expects pressure from the rising price of ingredients for its products such as chocolate bars, coffee and soup to ease, helping it meet its target for increasing sales despite tough markets. |
Afghan officials: Taliban kill alleged adulterers and spies | Salim Sallhe, spokesman for the governor of Logar province, said the incident happened on Sunday in a remote area of the Mohammad Agha district where the government does not hold authority. Sallhe says a preliminary police investigation says the stoning did not take place in public.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Langley Advance. |
BRIEF-Fortis reports Q1 EPS c$0.72 | UPDATE 1-U.S. beef speeds to China by air as trade deal ends 14-year ban
CHICAGO, June 14 The first shipment of U.S. beef to China under a new trade deal went airborne on Wednesday, a Nebraska meat company said, just two days after Washington finalized details to resume exports, ending a 14-year ban. |
BRIEF-HGCapital Trust Says Net Asset Value 670 Mln Stg At Nov 30 | Dec 11 (Reuters) - Hgcapital Trust Plc:
* NET ASSET VALUE AS AT NOV 30 670 MILLION STG Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: |
U.S. intelligence agencies suspect Assad kept some chemical weapons - official | Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with Croatian newspaper Vecernji List in Damascus, Syria, in this handout picture provided by SANA on April 6, 2017. SANA/Handout via REUTERS
WASHINGTON U.S. intelligence agencies suspect that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad kept some of the chemical weapons or components that he agreed to surrender under a 2013 U.S.-Russian deal, a U.S. intelligence official said on Thursday.
"We have never taken the Assad regime at its word that it declared its entire chemical weapons stockpile," said the U.S. intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"Assad has repeatedly shown that he is willing to use whatever chemical weapons he has retained or reconstituted to attack and terrorise his own people," the official said.
(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Chris Reese) |
BRIEF-Qurient receives patent | BRIEF-Guizhou Xinbang Pharmaceutical receives GMP certificate
* Says co received goods manufacture practice (GMP) certificate from Guizhou Food and Drug Administration, for pills (condensed pills) manufactured by co and the valid period is until June 11, 2022 |
Spain: Mallorca to ban renting apartments to tourists | MADRID (AP) - Palma on the island of Mallorca plans to become the first Spanish city to prohibit the rental of apartments to tourists.
Palma mayor Antoni Noguera says Tuesday that his government will vote for the ban in a city council because "there is nothing worse than having residents who can't live in their city nor afford a rent."
Rents in Mallorca and in most Spanish cities have increased in recent years. Many residents and local lawmakers blame the price rise on internet sites and apps that allow travelers to rent apartments short-term directly from homeowners.
Noguera says that houses will be excluded from the ban, unless they are in protected areas, near airports or in industrial areas. |
Details of killer whale Tilikum's death at SeaWorld remain a mystery | Read more: The Raw Story
ORLANDO, Fla. - As legally required, SeaWorld notified the federal government how its infamous killer whale Tilikum died: of bacterial pneumonia.
Start the conversation, or Read more at The Raw Story. |
Hungary to scrap reduced VAT on new homes after 2019 as planned -minister | BUDAPEST, July 4 (Reuters) - Hungary will drop a reduced value-added tax rate on new homes at the end of 2019 as planned, Finance Minister Mihaly Varga told broadcaster InfoRadio late on Tuesday, addressing speculation that the government could extend the measure.
The 5 percent VAT rate, in effect since 2016, has fuelled a housing boom in Budapest not seen since before the 2008 global financial crisis and helped boost Hungary’s economic growth rate to around 4 percent.
The upswing in house prices and mortgage lending has opened a new chapter for Hungary’s banks after years of deleveraging.
“The government is not considering an extension,” Varga told InfoRadio in an interview late on Tuesday.
Hungary’s main VAT rate is 27 percent, the highest in the European Union, although the government has lowered the tax on basic foods and some services.
“A bubble has emerged in the market and it is no use for the government to feed this further with artificial tools,” Varga said.
The minister said the reduced tax rate would remain in place until Dec 31, 2019.
Varga said the government’s main aim behind the reduced VAT rate had been to help families purchase new homes, but foreign buyers and domestic investors were increasingly taking advantage of the upswing, which, he said, was not what the government had in mind.
The tax measure is part of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s drive to boost Hungary’s low birth rates and support large families. Orban was re-elected for a third four-year term in an April landslide.
The National Bank of Hungary has said economic growth could slow in 2020 as a hike in the VAT could halt an upturn in the housing market. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) |
Taiwan says Chinese aircraft fly around island in weekend of drills | TAIPEI (Reuters) - Chinese military aircraft carried out two rounds of drills around Taiwan at the weekend, flying past its southern tip and then around its north near Japan, the self-ruled island's defense ministry said.
China has been increasingly asserting itself in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas. It is also worried about Taiwan, which it claims as its own, but which is run by a government China fears is intent on independence.
On Sunday, two Chinese military transport aircraft flew through the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines before going up near the Japanese island of Miyako, to Taiwan's north, where they were joined by two Chinese fighter jets, and then returned home, the ministry said.
The day before, Chinese bombers and transport aircraft flew the same route, while Chinese fighters and airborne early warning aircraft flew only through the Bashi Channel, the ministry added.
Taiwan's forces monitored the drills and responded appropriately, the ministry said, adding there was no cause for alarm.
China has yet to comment on the drills, but its air force has carried out several rounds of long-distance training exercises around Taiwan and the southern Japanese islands in recent months.
Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and has warned that any moves towards formal independence could prompt an armed response.China is in the midst of an ambitious military modernization program that includes building aircraft carriers and developing stealth fighters, to give it the ability to project power far from its shores. |
Brendan Cole's first interview since axe from Strictly | Provocative, gloriously unpredictable — and, as judges, fans and fellow dancers will attest, possessed of a passionate fury when wronged.
As anyone who’s ever watched Strictly Come Dancing will tell you, professional dancer Brendan Cole has run the gamut of emotions during his 15 explosive years on the show. But until this week, few have ever seen him close to tears.
Following his emotional appearance on ITV’s Lorraine show on Tuesday, he is trying his best to be philosophical about the ‘editorial decision’ [executive producer Louise Rainbow’s words] not to renew his contract on the hit BBC show that made him a star.
As anyone who’s ever watched Strictly Come Dancing will tell you, professional dancer Brendan Cole has run the gamut of emotions during his 15 explosive years on the show. Above, the dancer and his girlfriend Zoe Hobbs
He had to battle a malicious whispering campaign about everything including his close friendship with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova (pictured together)
‘I’ve got to be,’ he tells me. ‘Otherwise I’d beat myself up wondering why.
‘I’ve had pretty much every range of emotions over the last week from sadness to excitement. I love . . .’ He corrects himself, ‘I loved being a pro on Strictly. I loved the fact I was there from the beginning. One of the saddest bits is that it will go on and I won’t be a part of it. It’s like not being invited to the party. You know they’re having a good time and you want to be a part of it.’
There is genuine sorrow as he speaks. ‘The interview I did on Lorraine was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,’ he says.
‘Bear in mind, I hadn’t told anybody except my wife. But I wanted to have control of the situation because I am a control freak. I wanted to be the one to tell the people who like watching me dance. I didn’t want them to hear it through a tweet.
Following his emotional appearance on ITV’s Lorraine show on Tuesday (pictured), he is trying his best to be philosophical about the ‘editorial decision’ not to renew his contract on the hit BBC show that made him a star
‘The BBC would have been happy if I’d said I’d wanted to leave the show and have my pride intact. But that’s not me. I don’t lie. I’m definitely upset. This is not something I wanted. I thought I had a few more years in me. I wasn’t ready to hang up the old dancing shoes.’
Nor were his many fans and colleagues ready to see him go.
The outcry following the news of his departure this week has been overwhelming. Everyone from the runners to the show’s most gifted choreographers have been in touch to express their incredulity.
The star said he's received great support since being let go. He said: ‘There have been hundreds and hundreds of texts. As soon as I came off air, the phone was going all day. That’s the bit that’s made me feel as good as I do'
Cole’s fellow dancer Anton Du Beke, the only surviving member of the original professional line-up, was one of the first to contact him.
‘Oh love,’ he texted. ‘This is bad news. Already this year’s show will be less for you not being there. I’m going to miss you, my old love. I can’t quite believe it.’
Presenter Tess Daly was also one of the first to pick up the phone. ‘She told me: “I can’t believe I’ve heard this news”. She was really gutted. Tess and I go way back. We’ve been close for years.
‘There have been hundreds and hundreds of texts. As soon as I came off air, the phone was going all day. That’s the bit that’s made me feel as good as I do.
‘I should still feel sad but the support has been overwhelming. Arlene [former judge Arlene Phillips] and Len [former head judge Len Goodman] were two of the first people to text. Len said: “I hope you’re okay. Don’t worry. Bigger and better things will come to you”. That means a lot.’
But many fans are left wondering why the BBC would want to get rid of one of the show’s most colourful characters?
A source told MailOnline: 'Not one of the judges have tweeted Brendan to say thank you or good luck for the future'
Needless to say, speculation has been rife, fuelled by BBC insiders who have made Brendan’s life close to a living hell during the past six months.
This included a malicious whispering campaign about everything from his close friendship with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova (more of which later) to claims that he is an egotistical nightmare backstage.
Earlier this week, an industry insider claimed that the decision not to renew Cole’s contract was made following an ultimatum from the judges for him to go after he ‘disrespected’ head judge Shirley Ballas when she criticised the tango he had performed with breakfast TV presenter Charlotte Hawkins in week three of the show.
‘I don’t know if that was handled the right way on air. If you disagree with somebody, which I did that particular day about the way she felt we danced the tango, you have the right to say what I did.
‘I didn’t get aggressive. I said: “Well, I disagree”. Anybody can watch that footage back and make up their own mind. Then Bruno stepped in and said his piece, that I should be more respectful, which I still don’t get. But what I certainly regret is saying: “I will, my dear.”
‘The phrase “my dear” is patronising and I certainly didn’t mean to be. I’m not a patronising person. But you’re on a live TV show and you’re frustrated with the situation.
‘Your adrenalin’s going. You’re at a heightened point of your emotions. Twenty minutes later you’d handle things very differently. But I’d just done a dance live on air with Charlotte, who I really care about. You want the best for her. You want to stay in the show and you know you’re vulnerable because you’re certainly not one of the best couples.
‘So, yes, if I could take that back I would. But the last six months have been pretty horrendous. If I could work it out, I would. All I know is you can’t put a foot wrong. You can’t even dip a toe on the other side within that world because it will be taken, it will be run with, and before long you’re in a s***storm.’
Gutted: The emotional star, who famously rowed with new head judge, Shirley Ballas, during the last series, as well as Bruno Tonioli, talked about his shock sacking during an appearance on breakfast show Lorraine
Although baffled and bruised, Cole, 41, shows no signs of bitterness. In truth, he has been inundated with numerous offers since he announced his departure and, such is his nature, is genuinely excited about the future. He was, though, deeply shaken when he first learnt he would be leaving the show, which paid him a reported £50,000 per series.
Cole was in Buxton, Derbyshire with his touring dance show All Night Long nine days ago when the call came.
‘The normal situation with Strictly, when they ask us to return or not, is we get a phone call around now.
‘There’s always that little bit of you that thinks, I wonder if they’ll want me back. You just don’t know. So it was 15 series of waiting for this day to come. Every year, particularly as the show has got bigger and bigger, you think: I really want to be there. I hope I haven’t blown it. I hope I’m still exciting people.
‘I was in a hotel room when my agent called me first. There was a massive feeling of: “The day I’ve dreaded has come”. Then I had a call from the executive producer of the show [Louise Rainbow] and the director of BBC Studios [Mark Linsey].
He revealed: 'It was 15 series of waiting for this day to come. Every year, particularly as the show has got bigger and bigger, you think: I really want to be there. I hope I haven’t blown it. I hope I’m still exciting people'
‘It was a very frank conversation. There’s not a lot you can say when they give you news like that. I’m really passionate on air. Everyone knows what my character’s like, but it is a character to a certain extent. Without the lights, camera, action, you have a normal conversation.
‘They said: “Listen Brendan, we’d like to thank you for your time on the show but we’ve taken an editorial decision that we won’t be renewing your contract next year”. I said: “Okay, thank you. I’m disappointed but I love the show”.’
Aware that what he says next will surprise fans who know only his combustible side, he gives a wry smile. ‘I actually congratulated Louise Rainbow on what she’d done with the show.
All over: His 13-year association with Strictly sensationally ended amid claims of on-air arguments with judges and consistent criticism of his celebrity partners
‘Then I called my wife. She was disappointed for me because she knew how much it meant to me. I suppose for her it was hard because we weren’t together. When you have a big moment like that in your life you want the people around you whom you love and trust.
‘Within a few hours, though, I had to be on stage in my show. I felt raw. Ridiculously raw. The show is centred very much around Strictly.
‘I remember doing the rumba; it’s really intimate, really slow. I was quite emotional when I was out there dancing thinking, S***, this is it. I’m not going to be doing Strictly any more.
‘I felt exposed. You’re having to talk about Strictly on stage but it’s the one thing you don’t really want to talk about.’
He shrugs. ‘By the second half I’d pulled myself together. The thing is, none of this has turned out to be as dreadful as I thought it would be. In a way, I feel liberated.’
We meet in Torquay, the next stop of his dance show. When he takes the microphone on stage the foot-stamping and cheering from the 1,000-strong audience goes on for a good five minutes. Cole is visibly touched.
For all the talk about his impossible ego, Cole comes across as a decent man with a warmth of personality not often found in celebrities. He also has a finely-tuned sense of right and wrong. Although Cole won’t say it, he knows he’s been treated badly.
He has tried his best to patch up his relationship with head judge Shirley Ballas — which first came under strain after Cole made an off-the-cuff comment on the Strictly follow-up show, It Takes Two.
‘They’d asked if we were going to try to impress Shirley and I said, she’d have to try to impress us because we’d been here for 15 series.
‘I apologised to her for that but I never received a response. The several times I’ve had to speak to her I have always been polite but on those occasions I didn’t get that back — I didn’t get anything back actually.’
He has tried his best to patch up his relationship with head judge Shirley Ballas (pictured) — which first came under strain after Cole made an off-the-cuff comment on the Strictly follow-up show, It Takes Two
Has he heard from the current set of judges?
‘No,’ he says. ‘The thing, is they’re part of the show. Everything is heavily scrutinised. I don’t know what they’re intending to do when the dust has settled.
‘I consider myself very close to Craig [Revel Horwood] and Darcey [Bussell]. I love Craig. We don’t always see eye-to-eye on air but we’ve never had a cross word backstage.
‘Once the adrenalin goes, you laugh about it and say: “I can’t believe you said that, you bastard”. I have great respect for him. I love Darcey, too. She’s got a great elegance about her and, if she doesn’t like what you’ve done, she’ll put it in a lovely way.
On Shirley, he said: 'I apologised to her for that but I never received a response. The several times I’ve had to speak to her I have always been polite but on those occasions I didn’t get that back'
‘I don’t really know Bruno that well. I don’t have that much to do with him. I never have. I barely speak to him, although I’ll always say hello when we pass in the corridor.
And Ballas? ‘Len was irreplaceable,’ he says. ‘You can’t come in and be another Len. You have to make it your own. She’s certainly made it her own.
‘I’ll make no bones about the fact I would have loved that role myself. I didn’t get it. I wasn’t bitter about not getting it. I had a screen test. I walked out thinking I couldn’t have done it better than that, whatever happens, happens. I was disappointed but it was expected because I’m a dancer on the show. That was my job.’
For many of us, though, Brendan is more than a dancer. He’s been an integral part of the show from the very beginning when, as a ‘green 26-year-old’, he burst on to the nation’s consciousness as his eight-year relationship with fellow dancer Camilla Dallerup spectacularly fell to pieces once he began to partner Natasha Kaplinsky. The Strictly Curse was born.
‘Camilla and I were dance partners at the time we made the decision to go on the show,’ he says. ‘In the beginning nobody knew what the show was or how emotions would be affected. It was very new and a learning experience for everyone.
‘I learnt a lot through that because I saw my relationship break down. I saw Camilla leave — it was her decision.
‘I’ve never talked about what relationship Natasha and I had on the show. What I did learn is that Strictly is not reality. It’s a television show where emotions are very much heightened.
‘It’s a unique situation and a fantastic show to be part of, but when you take it away, life just goes back to normal.’
‘It’s a unique situation and a fantastic show to be part of, but when you take it away, life just goes back to normal’
Did he get carried away in the Strictly bubble during that first series?
‘It’s a personal part of my life but there were certainly a lot of feelings and emotions. It was a hell of a time. I’d never been through a rollercoaster like that.
‘I didn’t cross any lines with Natasha. I was single. Camilla had ended the relationship very early on in the series so what happened happened after that.
‘It was a harrowing time — winning the show as much as my friendship with Natasha. On the other hand it was like, Holy Moses. It can ruin a marriage so easily.’
Now married for eight years to former model Zoe Hobbs, with whom he has a five-year-old daughter Aurelia and a second baby on the way, Brendan is not at ease discussing past friendships — not least recent groundless reports that he had been overly close to newcomer Russian siren Nadiya Bychkova at the Strictly wrap party.
‘Zoe trusts me but does she like it? No. Does anybody like to see anything gossipy being put out there about their husband even though they understand the industry? No.
‘The fact that she’s pregnant and her hormones are all over the shop and having to deal with this nonsense isn’t the nicest thing. All you can do is be there for your partner, give an honest account and deal with it as best as you can.
‘Everyone’s very aware of the so-called “Strictly Curse”. Jealousy for any relationship is tough but it’s very much heightened on Strictly because of the relationship you form with your partner.
‘I’d hate to be on the other side — I’d hate to be a celebrity’s partner on the show watching it unfold, seeing their partners change and develop, be it their body shape, mentally or emotionally. Unless you’ve done the show you can’t fathom what it does to you.
‘I’m a happily married man and I love being a dad. I used to think marriage was just a piece of paper but it’s more than that. It’s like home. It’s saying: “This is the person I’m proud to be with”.
‘The Strictly fantasy bubble is amazing but when your dancing shoes go into the bag at night and you go home to a cuddle from your daughter, that’s what life is about. That’s part of the excitement of the future.
‘Strictly is all encompassing for five months of the year, which hasn’t always been easy for Zoe. ‘But the show will go on and the show will still be fantastic. Ultimately it’s about two people creating magic on the dance floor. That was my passion and what I loved doing.
‘The producers who have made these decisions — whether it’s getting rid of me or taking on Shirley as head judge — they make decisions that become part of the show’s legacy. But they don’t own the show. The show is owned by the nation.
‘I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have shown me that in the past week. I wasn’t expecting such supportive comments. I thought 50 per cent of people would say: “Good bloody riddance, can’t stand that guy.” But the reaction has made me think, wow, the future’s bright.’ |
Down 0-2 and still scoreless, Blackhawks remain confident | Down 0-2 and still scoreless, Blackhawks remain confident The Chicago Blackhawks know one thing with an absolute certainty: They must play better Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2ogBZWf Boston Bruins right wing Drew Stafford celebrates his goal with teammates John-Michael Liles , Ryan Spooner and David Backes during the second period of game two NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoff action against the Ottawa Senators, in Ottawa, Saturday, April 15, 2017. Instead, the Western Conference's top seed trails the Nashville Predators 0-2 and looks nothing like the team favored to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Start the conversation, or Read more at USA Today. |
Could infrared 'turbo' saunas ease pain and help you slim? | Unlike a traditional sauna, which uses a stove to heat up humid air, infrared saunas (file pic) work like a microwave, heating the body by shaking water molecules in the skin and fat
The latest wellness trend may be little more than hot air — literally. Celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow have advocated infrared saunas.
Costing about £50 for a half-hour session and able to generate more intense heat than traditional Finnish varieties, they're seen as a high-tech way to sweat it all out.
Unlike a traditional sauna, which uses a stove to heat up humid air, infrared saunas work like a microwave, heating the body by shaking water molecules in the skin and fat with long-wavelength infrared light beams.
Sometimes described as a 'sauna on steroids', the heat they create can lead to levels of warmth that might be intolerable in a conventional sauna due to the high air temperature and humidity. Devotees claim the intense heat has many health benefits, from pain control to improved circulation and even weight loss.
But do they live up to the hype? While there have been a number of large studies into the benefits of traditional saunas, not many focus on infrared ones, even though they've been around since the late 19th century — first appearing as 'electric light baths' pioneered by Dr J. H. Kellogg in the U.S.
The bulk of the relevant research has been done in Japan, where it's also known as Waon therapy, with small studies showing limited benefits for a range of conditions, including cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, arthritis and the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia.
One of the largest studies showed a very slight improvement in a group of 112 chronic heart failure patients given infrared sauna therapy for two weeks, compared with a control group of 76 patients receiving standard treatment.
Dr Steve Faulkner, an exercise physiologist from Nottingham Trent University, researches the effects of heat on the body. He is unconvinced that the patients' improvements are specifically due to the saunas and thinks they're more likely to be a result of the general effects of intense heat.
Sweat is mostly water, with a small amount of salt, so it won't flush out toxins, says Professor David Gorski, a surgical oncologist at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Michigan
'We're starting to gather more human data on the impact of heat therapy, regardless of the source,' he says. 'For example, you see reductions in blood pressure after repeated bouts of sauna therapy. And a big study from Finland found that people who have more frequent saunas had a lower rate of heart disease risk factors.
'We've also shown hot water baths might help to control blood sugar levels, which may be useful for people with type 2 diabetes.'
Dr Faulkner says heat mimics some of the same physiological effects as exercise, producing chemicals called cytokines, which trigger inflammation.
The body launches an anti-inflammatory response that, in the long term, improves cardiovascular function and stabilises blood sugar levels by encouraging glucose to be taken into cells.
'Everyone should try to increase their physical activity,' he says. 'But there are people who can't or won't exercise, so heat therapy might have some of the benefits of exercise without the effort.'
But anyone thinking infrared saunas are a quick route to shedding pounds will be disappointed — immediate weight loss after a sauna is simply water that has been sweated out.
And although it's claimed that just sitting in an infrared sauna burns several hundred calories an hour through the effort of trying to cool down, Dr Faulkner is not so sure.
'There may be an effect on blood flow and that could lead to a small elevation in energy expenditure, but I can't see how this can increase by the amount that has been suggested.
'In our study of hot baths we've seen roughly an 80 per cent increase in energy expenditure, which equates to about 70 additional calories over an hour.'
The infrared beams used in most saunas — known as 'far' infrared — are safe (unlike shorter near-infrared waves in sunlight and other infrared sources, which can cause burns and premature ageing). However, there are still some risks.
Dehydration is an obvious hazard: sauna users are advised to drink plenty of water afterwards.
Sauna fans claim the habit increases 'wellness' (file pic), a concept impossible to measure
Pregnant women should also avoid saunas, as should people with cardiovascular conditions, including very high or low blood pressure, as high heat puts more stress on an already struggling circulatory system.
There are potential benefits for heart health in the long term, as blood vessels expand and anti-inflammatory responses get to work, but it is recommended you check with a doctor first.
As for the idea that saunas are 'detoxifying', the sweat produced is no more than the body's cooling system kicking into action.
Sweat is mostly water, with a small amount of salt, so it won't flush out toxins, says Professor David Gorski, a surgical oncologist at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Michigan.
However, sauna fans often claim the habit increases 'wellness', a concept impossible to measure.
'I'll occasionally go for a sauna and I feel quite nice afterwards,' says Dr Faulkner. 'So who am I to say you shouldn't do that?' |
Japan's Kawasaki Bemoans Government Barriers to Weapons Exports | An executive at one of Japan's biggest defense companies has bemoaned government barriers to exporting military equipment, as changes to the law have failed to bring the bonus MAST defense convention in Chiba, near Tokyo, the company's senior manager for its naval ship sales department said the government needed to rethink its required processes. "Basically, it's impossible for us to just go out and sell things," Toshihide Takao said Monday.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Bloomberg. |
West Hollywood observes National Poetry Month | The city will celebrate National Poetry Month throughout the month of April with events, readings, a writing workshop and more, curated by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Kim Dower. In cooperation with WeHo Arts, the city will place banners featuring lines of verse from celebrated poets on lampposts on Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards.
Start the conversation, or Read more at LA Independent. |
Memory Cafe at the Rose Theatre | About Memory Cafe at the Rose Theatre
Memory Cafes are safe, comfortable and supportive gatherings for people with dementia and their carers to meet others in a similar situation in the community. The dementia support team from Home Instead are on hand to offer information, guidance and support as well as offering activities designed to improve mental well-being. |
Russian Olympic Committee to support Winter Games athletes: draft | MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) will support Russian athletes who choose to compete in next year’s Winter Games in South Korea, according to a draft document seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Alexander Zhukov attends a meeting on the country's participation at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, in Moscow, Russia December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) last week banned Russia from the Games, due to take place in Pyeongchang in February, for what it called “unprecedented systematic manipulation” of the anti-doping system. It left the door open for clean athletes to compete as neutrals.
An ROC official said on Monday most Russian athletes still wanted to attend, even as neutrals..
The Russian committee is due to formalise its position on Pyeongchang at a meeting on Tuesday attended by sporting figures including the national men’s hockey team, figure skaters, speed skaters and the presidents of winter sports federations.
President Vladimir Putin said last week that Russia would not prevent its athletes from competing, damping down calls from some for a boycott.
He also reiterated Russia’s insistence that there was no state-sponsored doping system in the country.
In the weeks leading up to the IOC ban, more than 20 Russian athletes who competed at the 2014 Sochi Games were banned for life from the Olympics for allegedly violating anti-doping rules. |
UPDATE 1-UK Stocks-Factors to watch on April 13 | (Adds company news, futures)
April 13 Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening 15.3 points lower on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 down 0.1 percent ahead of the cash market open.
* SAINSBURY: Britain's No. 2 supermarket group Sainsbury plans to convert 60 Argos general merchandise stores to a digital format and open more in-store Habitat outlets over the next year, it said on Thursday.
* HSS HIRE: Tool and equipment rental firm HSS Hire said on Thursday that Chief Executive John Gill will step down once a successor is appointed.
* HAYS: British recruitment company Hays forecast full-year profit at the top end of market expectations on Thursday after reporting record third-quarter net fees as international hiring offset weakness in the UK market following the Brexit vote.
* ROYAL MAIL: Britain's Royal Mail said on Thursday it would close its defined benefit pension scheme at end-March 2018 after a review found it would need to more than double annual contributions to over 1 billion pounds ($1.26 billion) to keep the plan running.
* RIO: Australia's foreign investment watchdog has cleared Chinese-backed coal miner Yancoal Australia Ltd to pursue its $2.45 billion acquisition of Rio Tinto,'s Coal and Allied Division, Yancoal said on Thursday.
* BRITAIN HOUSE PRICES: House prices in central London saw their most widespread declines since 2009 as Brexit uncertainties and high transaction costs dented demand for high-end property in the British capital, a survey showed on Thursday.
* BRITAIN ECONOMY: British manufacturers reported the fastest export growth in more than two years in early 2017 and the services sector also recovered to rack up its strongest sales growth since last June's Brexit vote, a business survey showed on Thursday.
* EX-DIVS: Reckitt Benckiser, Standard Life and Taylor Wimpey will trade without entitlement to their latest dividend pay-out on Thursday, trimming 3.7 points off the FTSE 100 according to Reuters calculations
* The UK blue chip index fell 0.2 percent at close on Wednesday as results weighed on Tesco shares and the broader UK supermarket sector.
* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: cpurl://apps.cp./cms/?pageId=livemarkets
* UK CORPORATE DIARY:
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> Other business headlines Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visit topnews.session.rservices.com * For Top News : topnews.reuters.com (Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) |
Southwest is selling $39 flights for its birthday | The J.D. Power 2017 North America Airline Satisfaction Study ranks traditional and low-cost airlines. Click through the photos to see where you favorite airline was ranked.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Seattle Post-Intelligencer. |
'Fake news' has not spared the financial markets | As much as we may not want to hear it, there is nothing new about the phenomenon known as fake news. Combatting it has proven to be a viable business for Snopes.com, which has been exposing fake news items, from fabricated messages to factual distortions since the mid-1990s.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Silicon Alley Insider. |
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Norway turns to power imports after dry spring hits... | By Lefteris Karagiannopoulos
OSLO, July 4 (Reuters) - Norway has become a net power importer from Denmark and Sweden this summer, after a warm and dry spring reduced the nation's hydropower reserves and drove up Norwegian power prices, the grid operator said on Wednesday.
Norway's reservoirs have received rainfall in 2018 that is equivalent to 22 terrawatt hours (TWh) less than a normal year, a shortfall equivalent to the energy needs of 1.1 million households, or half of Norway's population.
"Most of the imported power comes from Denmark and Sweden, which had a surplus of wind power," Norway's state-owned grid Statnett said in a statement, adding that it was the first summer in several years that Norway was a net power importer.
"Given the snowy winter we had, it may seem strange that we are in such a situation," it said.
Although Norway's reservoirs, at 61.7 percent full last week, are at a marginally higher level than the same period last year, most of the snow has already melted due to the unusually warm spring so there is less water being added.
Warm, dry conditions have also led to more evaporation.
"Dry weather is still expected and the hydrological balance ... is expected to deteriorate further in the short term," it said.
Last year Norway's reservoirs peaked at 86.6 percent full. Experts say the peak this year is likely to be far lower.
Lower water levels mean electricity will cost much more for consumers, making it cheaper to import power. The price of Norwegian power this summer exceeded 45 euros per megawatt hour, nearly double last year's level.
"The fact that we have the opportunity to import surplus power from our neighbouring countries means that we can exploit each other's energy systems and save on Norwegian water resources when needed," Statnett said.
(Editing by Edmund Blair) |
Coroner's Inquest scheduled in death of Shauna Wolf | In December 2015, the 27-year-old woman was being held at Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert, Sask. when she was found in distress in her cell.
Start the conversation, or Read more at CBC News. |
Photo Gallery: Polar Bear Plunge | With a water temperature of about 40-degrees and the air in the mid 20's, most of the participants didn't spend long in the lake or outside.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Wenatchee World. |
Tribes, MGM Resorts, bicker before lawmakers | An artist's rendering of a proposed Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casino planned for East Windsor. A bill before state lawmakers would open up the process to other backers and, possibly, locations including Southwestern Connecticut.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Westport News. |
Talent-packed squad as key to Real success as Ronaldo - Ramos | BARCELONA Cristiano Ronaldo hogged the headlines after his hat-trick against Atletico Madrid put Real Madrid on the verge of the Champions League final, although captain Sergio Ramos believes an effervescent squad was a crucial factor behind their success.
Real shook off the absence of record signing Gareth Bale and an injury to Dani Carvajal in the first half to crush Diego Simeone's usually resilient side, scoring as many goals on Tuesday as Atleti had conceded in their previous seven games.
Real's least experienced defender Nacho Fernandez was called on to deputise for Carvajal in the unfamiliar right-back role while the display of Isco was viewed by many in the Spanish media as an upgrade on Bale, and 21-year-old Marco Asensio caused Atleti numerous problems down the left when he came on.
"The squad is the key to our success, having substitutes that always make their presence felt and play as well as those of us who play more often," Ramos told reporters.
"This is the path we need to follow, where everyone is committed and ready to do their part. It's difficult at Madrid to keep everyone happy because everyone is so good but those demands and the level of competition makes everyone eager to play and make the difference."
Barring a remarkable turnaround in next Wednesday's semi-final second leg at the Vicente Calderon, Real will reach a third Champions League final in four years, while they are on course to win a first domestic league title since 2012.
"It was one of those games where everything went well, it was an impeccable performance," said Ramos.
"We kept a clean sheet and as well as Cristiano's goals, which will grab the front pages, you have to highlight the mentality of the group, our efforts, our willingness to press Atletico high in their own half."
Atletico also had injury problems going into the game and were missing both of their right backs in Juanfran and Sime Vrsaljko as well as Jose Gimenez.
Yet Simeone's side looked flustered, while there was a remarkable freshness to Madrid, which Ramos said was down to Zinedine Zidane's rotation policy.
The Frenchman, who is on track to become the first coach to successfully defend the European Cup since AC Milan's Arrigo Sacchi in 1990, has carefully managed his squad throughout the season.
No-one has been exempt from sitting out the occasional game, even Ronaldo, who has started 26 of 34 league fixtures, and resting the prolific Portuguese paid dividends as he added to his treble against Bayern Munich in the quarter-final second leg with another hat-trick.
"Zidane has been very intelligent in managing the minutes everyone plays," added Ramos.
"The players who normally play the most are arriving at the most important moments of the season feeling fresher and more focused."
(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty) |
HNA chairman death likely an accident, French police say | MARSEILLE, France, July 4 (Reuters) - Witness accounts point to the death of HNA Group’s Wang Jian in southern France being an accident, police said on Wednesday.
“He stood on the edge of a sharp drop to get his family to take a picture of him and fell,” said lieutenant-colonel Hubert Meriaux of the Vaucluse gendarmerie force, adding that Wang fell 15 meters off a wall.
“Witness accounts point to a likely accident,” Meriaux said, adding that an autopsy would be carried out to determine the cause of death. (Reporting by Jean-Francois Rosnoblet Writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by Michel Rose) |
Man, roommate's children confront armed intruder | When 12-year-old Mazzeo Sanchez woke up early Friday morning to a door closing, he thought it was his mom leaving for work. He went back to sleep, but then he heard pacing and hard breathing, which is something his father is known to do.
Start the conversation, or Read more at The Columbian. |
Isla Fisher exudes A-list glamour as she works her angles for sultry Marie Claire shoot | She's one of the biggest names in Hollywood, known for films including Wedding Crashers and Confessions of a Shopaholic.
And Australian actress Isla Fisher stuns on the cover of Marie Claire, exuding A-list glamour in a flowing emerald gown.
The 42-year-old looks flawless as she works her angles for the sultry shoot, with the redhead being teased as 'funny, fearless and unfiltered.'
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Isla Fisher exudes A-list glamour in a show-stopping pleated emerald gown as she works her angles for sultry Marie Claire shoot
On the cover, Isla gazes over her shoulder, with her long locks out and over her shoulders in loose tousled curls.
Isla wears rose gold chandelier earrings and makeup including light foundation and a blush coloured lipstick.
In a stunning inside shot, Isla twirls in her green frock which features billowing sleeves and a waistband.
Flirty and fun! In a stunning inside shot, Isla twirls in her green frock, which features billowing sleeves and a waistband
The petite star adds height to her frame with gold heels.
In another shot, Isla flaunts her slender figure in a hot pink dress, which features a one-shoulder design and a thigh-split.
Her look is completed with a dark pink lip and over-sized earrings, and she smoulders as she stares down the camera.
Flawless: In another shot, Isla flaunts her slender figure in a hot pink dress, which features a one-shoulder design and a thigh-split
Isla told the publication that she wants to move to Byron Bay with her family, following in the footsteps of the likes of Chris Hemsworth.
She said raising a family in Los Angeles is challenging.
'I have this secret fantasy of slowing down, moving to Byron Bay, getting off the grid and sitting on the sand with a Vegemite sandwich,' she said.
Isla and her husband Sacha Baron Cohen are parents to Olive, 10, Elula, seven, and Montgomery, three.
The latest issue of Marie Claire is on stands now. |
County-worker policy gets JP panel's support | Pulaski County officials added some finishing touches to the newly revamped 60-page policy manual that applies to the county's approximately 1,250 employees. On Tuesday, the Quorum Court's agenda committee approved the updated personnel policy, which has been in the works since April.
Start the conversation, or Read more at NWAonline. |
BRIEF-China Construction Bank announces appointment of Liao Lin as chief risk officer | Canada's Home Capital agrees settlement with regulator
TORONTO, June 14 Home Capital Group Inc said on Wednesday it had agreed on a settlement with the Ontario Securities Commission and accepted responsibiity for misleading investors about problems with its mortgage underwriting procedures. |
Government admits it has to weaken 'Henry VIII' powers | The Government admitted today it will have to water down controversial powers for ministers in its flagship Brexit laws to avoid Commons defeat.
Ministers will tomorrow night accept a re-write of the so-called 'Henry VIII' powers that will allow MPs to impose greater scrutiny on changes to some EU laws as they are brought into UK law.
Under the current draft, ministers would have had power to tweak any EU law being copied over with minimal scrutiny using procedures dating from the era of the Tudor king.
Theresa May had faced an embarrassing Commons defeat over the issue as Tory rebels had the chance to win a vote setting up a 'triage' system.
Instead a committee will now review the laws being transferred and subject controversial changes to greater scrutiny.
But with three days of detailed debate left on the Brexit bill before Christmas, Ministers are set to keep fighting to write the Exit Day of March 29, 2019, into the draft law.
Theresa May (pictured today in Downing Street) has accepted amendments to her flagship Brexit laws in the face of likely defeat over so-called Henry VIII powers
The Government has won a series of Commons votes on the Brexit bill (including last week, pictured) but has accepted an amendment to head off a defeat
The Government currently has no position on another difficult amendment that seeks to guarantee for MPs a 'meaningful vote' on the terms of exit.
Signalling the climbdown this afternoon, Mrs May's spokesman said: 'We have studied the Procedure Committee's report in detail and listened to the representations and we are announcing today that we will be accepting this amendment.
'We recognise the role of Parliament in scrutinising the bill and we've said throughout that we are taking a pragmatic approach to what we've always said is a vital piece of legislation.
'Where MPs and peers can improve the bill we will work with them.'
Procedure committee chairman Charles Walker tabled new amendments on the Henry VIII powers last week.
The new amendment is likely to replace rebel amendments tabled by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve and which were the focus of efforts against the Government.
Procedure committee chairman Charles Walker (file image) tabled new amendments on the Henry VIII powers last week
Announcing his new amendments last week, Mr Walker said: 'They reflect the constructive discussions the Committee has held across the House on the best way to implement its report.
'I think our amendments represent a sound basis for agreement on the House's role in this process, and I urge colleagues across the Chamber to support them.
'The Procedure Committee wants a system to give the House a decisive say over how it is to debate the many technical legislative changes to be proposed as a result of this Bill.'
Mr Walker said his amendments would allow all necessary changes to the law to be made by exit day while allowing Parliament the necessary scrutiny.
He added: 'In Wednesday's debate I shall look forward to a positive response from both Despatch Boxes to the constructive suggestions we have made.
'The process of transferring over 40 years' worth of accumulated EU law into UK law is one of the greatest legislative challenges Parliament has ever faced.
'I shall be looking to the Government for assurances that the process is going to be managed appropriately and in a way which allows the new sifting committee to do its job properly.'
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: 'This is a welcome but minor concession on an issue on which the government knew it could not carry the House.
'The Leave campaign said that Brexit would mean ‘taking back control of our laws’, but since the referendum, ministers have done everything they can to undermine our parliamentary democracy and push through laws without proper scrutiny.' |
As Brexit bites, Ryanair to pivot growth away from UK for next two years | LONDON Ryanair (RYA.I), Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, plans to pivot its growth away from Britain over the next two years as it fears the lack of clarity over Brexit will cause major travel disruption and hit demand.
Airlines such as Ryanair and rival easyJet (EZJ.L) have urged the British government to put aviation at the front of the queue when negotiating its EU exit because they need to finalise their 2019 summer schedules in the first half of next year.
Ryanair has warned more stridently than peers of the dangers of neglecting aviation in the negotiations, saying that there may be no flights between the UK and Europe for a period of time if a special aviation deal is not agreed.
Without a deal, it is unclear what rules would govern airlines with significant British and EU business after Brexit. The uncertainty is pushing Ryanair to look outside Britain to grow the network by adding new routes and flights.
"Ryanair is pivoting its growth away from the UK," Finance Director Neil Sorahan told reporters in London, adding that the airline had planned to grow by about 15 percent in the UK last year but had instead posted growth of about 6 percent.
He said that Brexit will "inevitably" lead to a slowdown in growth in the UK and Europe, and added that, unless the government can provide greater certainty as to how airlines will be able to operate in the future, growth may slow more sharply as the end of the two-year divorce process approaches.
"The clock is ticking," Sorahan said. "Every day that goes past is another day that we still don't know where we're going."
The EU's chief negotiator has set a target of agreeing a Brexit deal with Britain by October 2018 though diplomats on both sides admit they face years arduous talks.
Airlines based in the EU have the right to fly to, from and within any country in the bloc thanks to the single aviation market created in the 1990s, meaning Britain has just two years to renegotiate access or come up with an alternative system.
Failure to agree a new deal could mean airlines having to rely on older, more restrictive bilateral ties between Britain and the other 27 individual EU member states, which would not allow for airlines like easyJet to fly between two EU countries.
EXTREME TURBULENCE
Luton-based easyJet has been one of the hardest hit by the vote, with its shares down by a third due to its exposure to the British consumer and its role flying between the remaining 27-member states which make up 30-40 percent of its business.
It has said it is close to applying for a licence to set up an operating company within the EU to protect its intra-EU flights.
Dublin-based Ryanair would not be able to fly intra-UK routes without an agreement or a UK operating base. Sorahan said that the airline had not yet decided whether it would try to secure a British air operating licence, and could instead cut its flights within Britain, which only account for around 2 percent of its business.
He said a decision would be made over the next 12 months.
Chief Marketing Officer Kenny Jacobs said that Ryanair had been disappointed that British Prime Minister Theresa May did not mention the aviation sector in her letter triggering formal Brexit negotiations last week.
"If we had seen in Theresa May's letter a specific reference to Open Skies, that would've been good," Jacobs said, adding that a sector by sector approach to negotiations would help.
May has held back from detailing her priorities for individual sectors, saying little more than she wants the closest possible economic ties with the bloc when Britain departs.
That has frustrated some sectors, such as financial services, which hoped to sway the government into prioritising their concerns above others to get early certainty.
(Writing by Kate Holton; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) |
BRIEF-Taiwan's Acer posts 2016 net loss after tax of T$4.9 bln | March 30 Acer Inc
* Says 2016 net loss after tax at T$4.9 billion ($161.79 million)
* Says 2016 operating profit at T$23.2 billion
Source text in Chinese: bit.ly/2mS3Wat (Please cut and paste the link into a browser to read the release)
Further company coverage: ($1 = 30.2870 Taiwan dollars) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom) |
BRIEF-Curro says HY HEPS up 22 pct to 26.9 cents | Aug 15 (Reuters) - CURRO HOLDINGS LTD
* Hy Revenue 24 Pct Up from 872 Mln Rand to 1085 Mln Rand
* HY OPERATIONAL EBITDA UP 24 PCT FROM 259 MLN RAND TO 322 MLN RAND
* No Dividend Was Declared for Period
* HY BASIC HEADLINE EARNINGS PER SHARE UP 22 PCT TO 26.9 CENTS SOURCE TEXT FOR EIKON: FURTHER COMPANY COVERAGE: |
Steve Jacobs' wife recent Rosie's friendship with Canadian soldier | The estranged-wife of popular Today show weatherman Steve Jacobs is dating an ex-Canadian commando soldier she met in Vanuatu.
Steve and Rosie Jacobs' split was announced over the weekend, nine years after they married and just months after 'making a decision for the family' to move overseas.
Friends of the pair told Daily Mail Australia Rosie that is dating Dylan Nash, who until last month worked on the Pacific Island where it is understood the pair met.
On Nash's Instagram account he boasts about fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, before taking up a management role with the Australian-owned Vanuatu business.
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Rosie Jacobs (left), the ex-wife of much loved Today show weatherman Steve (right), has been regularly seen alongside a former Canadian commando soldier ever since their separation
Rosie is now dating Dylan Nash (pictured), who she met while he was working with a Port Vila-based company, having previously fought the Taliban in Afghanistan
Mr Nash is understood to have finished working for the company last month, and since then appears to have been travelling, according to his social media accounts.
A Port Vila-based resident, where the Jacobs' have lived since mid-2017, said Rosie, 39, has 'become friendly with Mr Nash in the months since she split from Steve, 51'.
'Things were on the rocks for a while and Steve and Rosie finally split late last year,' the friend said.
'Rosie and Dylan were introduced through mutual friends towards the end of the year and struck up a friendship.
'They've been dating for a few months and he has been rock solid support for her ever since the split.
'He's an exceptional human being and they're understandably taking things slow, but Rosie is over the moon.'
The Jacobs', who share two young girls, have not posted photos online together for a number of months and no longer follow one another on Instagram.
Rosie and Steve's move to the Pacific Island nation came in a bid to increase the time spent with their two young daughters.
A source told Daily Mail Australia that Rosie (pictured) 39, has been dating Mr Nash in the months since she split from Steve, 51
After doing a tour of Afghanistan with the Royal Marine Commandos, Mr Nash (pictured) went on to work as a private security contractor in Afghanistan and North Africa
On one Instagram photo he wrote: 'Throwing back to my second tour to Afghanistan in 2008... the picture was taken shortly after a contact with the Taliban'
But the two have continued to regularly travel overseas, with Steve working in a part-time role with Weekend Today and Rosie for Channel 7 program Sydney Weekender.
On his Instagram account, Nash details a tour of Afghanistan with Canadian Royal Marine Commandos, and said he then went on to work as a private security contractor in Afghanistan and North Africa.
On one Instagram photo he wrote: 'Throwing back to my second tour to Afghanistan in 2008... the picture was taken shortly after a contact with the Taliban'.
Leaving his full-time role with the Today show after 12 years, Steve continued on in a position with Weekend Today since moving to Port Vila.
At the time, he tearfully told his long-time friend Karl Stefanovic the move was what he and his family needed.
At the time of leaving his role with the Today Show after 12 years, Steve tearfully told his long-time friend Karl Stefanovic the move was what he and his family (pictured) needed
The pair welcomed their first daughter Isabella in 2011 and their second Francesca in April 2013
'For the past 12 years, I haven't been able to wake up once with my wife, haven't been able to get the kids to daycare,' Steve said.
The pair met on Today in 2007, where Steve was a star weatherman and Rosie one of the breakfast show's producers.
In 2010, after Steve finalised his divorce to wife of two decades Alison, he and Rosie tied the knot in Bali.
The pair welcomed their first daughter Isabella in 2011 and their second Francesca in April 2013.
Steve has put the couple's family home up for sale, which further fueled speculation about the breakup.
The Coogee home, located in Sydney's eastern suburbs, is listed for sale with a price guide of $4million to $4.4million.
The pair met on Today in 2007, where Steve (right) was a star weatherman and Rosie (left) one of the breakfast show's producers
The couple purchased the four-bedroom home in 2011 for $2.55million and had been renting it out since moving to Vanuatu.
Featuring a modern design, the home has ocean views, a main bedroom with an ensuite, and a studio room above the garage.
Ballard Property Group Double Bay has listed the property for auction on April 7.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Rosie and Steve for comment, and also Mr Nash. |
Hundreds protest against racism towards African residents | Hundreds turned out in Melbourne on Sunday to protest the 'intense racist hysteria towards the African community'.
Holding signs that read: 'Dump Dutton', 'Stop racism now' and 'Jobs, education and services not racist law and order hysteria', the group were seen marching with a police escort through the capital city.
They loudly chanted: 'Dutton's game is a racist game - throw the Liberals out' as they moved towards the State Library.
Sunday's rally was designed to fight 'a wave of intense racist hysteria towards the African community in Melbourne', provoked by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Federal Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, the organisers said.
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Hundreds flocked to the Melbourne City Centre on Sunday to participate in a protest against racism at the Melbourne State Library
The group were rallying against 'intense racist hysteria towards the African community' in relation to a recent spate of gang crime
In an event page on Facebook, the organisers said the protest would also fight against stricter bail laws and enforced deportation rules.
They say an increasingly racial view of crime in Victoria has emboldened far-right groups to attack Africans.
'By racialising crime in Victoria, and spreading the lie that crime is an 'African' problem, Turnbull and Dutton have ramped up racism and fear and encouraged far-right groups to target the African community,' they wrote.
'In the face of such racist fear-mongering, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called for further punitive policing initiatives such as a national criminal intelligence framework.
'Last year, the state government spent an unprecedented $2 billion from to expand policing. This money could instead have been put into supporting public education, housing and community and employment programs to support young people.'
Richard Deng from the South Sudanese Community Association, State MP Samantha Ratnam from the Greens and lawyer Nyadol Nyuon were expected to address the crowd, among others.
One passionate protester brandished a bright yellow sign telling the Minister for Home Affairs to 'get in the bin'
Others were seen holding signs that said #africanyouthgang and another placard said 'we're not scapegoats'
Protesters chanted: 'Dutton's game is a racist game - throw the Liberals out'
One sign demanded 'elected civilian control boards to control the police' (right) because of racial profiling
A spokeswoman for Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia officers were in attendance for the protest.
'Police are currently attending a planned protest in the Melbourne CBD to respond and intervene where needed,' she said.
'Community safety is our number one priority.
'People have every right to protest, however we ask that they do so peacefully and without impacting on the rest of the community.'
The protest comes after a series of heavily publicised home invasions and burglaries, allegedly committed by young people of African appearance.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge have all called for harsher measures to be taken against migrant youths who break the law.
Mr Tudge and Mr Dutton have both publicly backed calls to begin deporting African nationals who had been convicted of a violent crime in recent weeks.
The Prime Minister told reporters last month his government was 'very concerned at the growing gang violence and lawlessness in Victoria, in particular in Melbourne.'
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the organisers of the rally for comment. |
Dea Aaron Fox, Josh Jackson get their turn to show what they can do | Kentucky guard De'Aaron Fox speaks after working out for the Lakers in El Segundo on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. Fox might be a consideration for their number 2 pick in the NBA draft on June 22. EL SEGUNDO >> The Lakers continued the business of draft preparation Tuesday, holding separate workouts for two of the players they are considering taking with their No.
Start the conversation, or Read more at The Daily Breeze. |
BRIEF-Freddie Mac announces pricing of $195.5 mln multifamily small balance loan securitization | NRG Energy's GenOn unit files for bankruptcy
WILMINGTON, Del., June 14 NRG Energy Inc's GenOn business filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday with an agreement with bondholders to cut $1.75 billion of its debt and restructure the power generator as a standalone business, according to a securities filing. |
Woman facing assault charges after Montgomery incident | Department of Public Safety spokesperson Martha Earnhardt says Amber Deshae Caldwell is facing one count of first-degree domestic violence . Earnhardt says the charges are related to an incident that took place Friday on Thursday in the 1100 block of East South Boulevard.
Start the conversation, or Read more at WSFA-TV Montgomery. |
The brutal moment a fox is caught by a pack of hounds | This is the horrifying moment a fox is ripped apart by dogs during a hunt as shocked onlookers film the scene unfolding.
During the clip hounds can be seen racing after the fox as it tries in vain to escape in Marden, Kent.
The camera then cuts to the dead fox being lifted away with its guts hanging from its body after the hunt, which was apparently organised by the Ashford Valley Tickham Hunt.
During the shocking clip, the dead fox can be seen being carried away as hounds circle the carcass
The cameraman can be heard telling riders at the end of the clip: 'Just so you know, you just killed a fox - you're not trail hunting. So if you're under any illusion that you're trail hunting, you're not.'
Fox hunting was banned in England in 2005, and is considered hunting if the person engages or participates in the pursuit of a wild mammal and one or more dogs are employed in that chase.
The video was recorded by Harry Blackhurst in November of last year.
The software consultancy recruiter is part of the anti-hunt group East Kent Saboteurs who go out every Saturday from August to March in a bid to stop the practice.
Mr Blackhurst said that after the fox was killed, police arrived and the huntsmen admitted the animal had been caught by the dogs.
The fox tried desperately to avoid the hounds but was eventually seen dead in the field in Kent
Mr Blackhurst, who recorded the clip, said: 'It was horrific. It's the worst thing I've ever seen in my life'
Fox hunting was banned in England in 2005, and it is considered hunting if the person engages or participates in the pursuit of a wild mammal and one or more dogs are employed in that chase
The 30-year-old says that he heard nothing from the authorities: 'I was chasing them to come back to me.'
Eventually, wildlife officers were sent to his house in relation to the incident.
But he says those wildlife officers were powerless to do anything: 'The Kent Police Wildlife Officers that came to my house claimed that they couldn't get involved in fox hunting crimes, because when the 2004 Hunting Act came in to force all of the hunts became limited companies so that they were dealt with under commercial law.'
Police attended the scene in Marden, Kent, after the fox was killed in a field
Eventually, his statement was taken by police in February, but he was told last Tuesday that the case had been closed.
Mr Blackhurst was disgusted by what he saw in November: 'It was horrific. It's the worst thing I've ever seen in my life.
'Now it's changed my life because I'm determined to avenge that fox. I can't let it rest.'
Kent Police have been approached for comment.
Ashford Valley Tickham Hunt declined to comment. |
S.S. GoodRiddance? Naming contest underway for former Mat-Su ferry | The borough last year finally offloaded the costly but never-used Susitna to the Philippine Red Cross at a major loss after five years trying to sell it or just give it away . The ferry arrived in Subic Bay in December and is now docked in Manila Bay for launch as a water ambulance and disaster-relief ship this month.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Anchorage Daily News. |
Jennifer Hawkins stuns on the beach in a tiny bikini on getaway with husband Jake Wall | Supermodel Jennifer Hawkins is currently enjoying an idyllic getaway with hubby Jake Wall.
And on Monday, the 33-year-old former Miss Universe shared a blissful clip as she relaxed on the sand of a picturesque beach in a mystery destination.
Sporting a fluorescent coloured triangle bikini, Jen wore a snorkel and flippers as her beau filmed his glamorous partner and the pristine surroundings.
Later, Jake shared an Instagram Story of his sunning wife as she dived in the deep blue waters, with her slender frame and pert derriere on full display.
The smitten couple were also seen in a loved-up snap which Jake simply captioned: '2017'.
With her long blonde locks left to fall effortlessly over her slender shoulders, Jen let her natural beauty show with a minimal amount of makeup.
To celebrate the arrival of the New Year, the blonde beauty shared a stunning snap which showcased her long legs.
'Loved-up': Jennifer Hawkins and her hubby Jake Wall are enjoying an idyllic getaway
On show: Jen was seen diving in the deep blue waters, with her slender frame and pert derriere on full display
Captioning the pic, Jen wrote '2017', accompanied by a flower and heart emoji.
The statuesque stunner - who stands at 1.8 metres tall - flaunted her trim pins as she gave a cutesy pose, while sitting in a large wooden chair.
She wore a low-cut sleeveless black top which revealed just a hint of cleavage.
Sitting pretty: Stunning Jennifer flaunted her trim pins in an Instagram post on Sunday, as she rang in the New Year
Jake also took to Instagram to share a snap to welcome in the New Year.
The picture showed the couple cuddled-up together, appearing to take some downtime before another busy year.
Meanwhile, Christmas appeared to be a family affair, with the Myer ambassador sharing a photo to Instagram posing alongside her brothers and sister.
Meanwhile, Jen and Jake sold their Sydney home for an estimated $5million in November.
The couple renovated the North Curl Curl residence, which helped net them a healthy profit, after they purchased the property for $1.66 million in 2013.
Family first: Jen (second from right) has been spending time with her family over the Christmas holidays, and is pictured with her three siblings in a recent Instagram snap
Legs for days: Jen Hawkins showed off her trim pins in a pair of denim shorts as she inspects the pool tiles at her luxurious new propety
It's expected the pair will this year move into a new mansion in the northern beaches suburb of Newport, which is still under construction.
Last month Jen snapped a photo where she was seen inspecting the pool tiles at the luxurious new property.
According to Jake's construction costs list, made to the council for the development, $350,000 alone will be spent on the property for landscaping, including the pool. |
3-year-old found wandering near W. Innes early Wednesday morning | According to Salisbury police, the young girl was found near the Bank of America parking lot on W. Innes Street. Police stood by with the child until the parents could be located.
Start the conversation, or Read more at WBTV. |
Early Onset Dementia Support Group | About Early Onset Dementia Support Group
Support Group meetings to provide an opportunity for young people with dementia and their supporters to talk about the challenges of living with dementia, share ideas and remain up to date on practical issues and scientific developments. The Support Group helps people with more advanced dementia to find their voice, through techniques such as imagery and physical expression. The meetings have fostered a real sense of community among people who otherwise feel very isolated. |
VW to invest $340 million in Tennessee to build new SUV | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) announced on Monday that it plans to invest $340 million to build a new sport utility vehicle at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant in the United States as demand surges for larger vehicles.
FILE PHOTO - The Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee November 4, 2015. REUTERS/Tami Chappell
It will build a five-passenger SUV that will be branded as part of the company’s Atlas family. A concept version will be unveiled next week at the New York International Auto Show, the German carmaker said in a statement.
“We are not only committed to this market, we are committed to our U.S. manufacturing home in Chattanooga, Tennessee,” it said.
Slideshow (2 Images)
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam said Volkswagen in Chattanooga had grown “from a single vehicle producer, starting with the Passat, into what it is today - a thriving U.S. manufacturing operation that can produce three models, and counting.”
The investment announcement is positive news for the U.S. car industry at a time when it is bracing for the impact of higher steel and aluminum tariffs on metal produced outside North America. Haslam told reporters last week the tariffs could add costs to manufacturers, especially automakers, that could be “very harmful.”
VW said in February that 54 percent of its total own-brand volume sales were SUVs. In addition to a new seven-passenger Atlas that went on sale last year, VW also unveiled an all-new 2018 Tiguan SUV last year. Prior to 2017, most of VW’s U.S. own-brand sales were cars.
VW is still working to improve its image in the United States after it admitted to cheating on diesel emissions tests in 2015, sparking the biggest business crisis in its history. |
White nationalist rally in Georgia | Hundreds of Central American migrants march on a journey through Mexico to the U.S. border, seeking to draw attention to migrants' rights and provide them with aid as they flee violence in their home countries. |
Locker Talk | Eighteen-year-old Fatiyah Boone Neville is one of 1,109 seniors graduating Richmond Public Schools this week. She'll attend Old Dominion University in the fall.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Style Weekly. |
BRIEF-Eltel AB agreement on new long-term financing, conditional upon completion of rights issue | May 2 Eltel Ab
* Rights issue of approximately 150 MEUR, with preferential rights for Eltel's shareholders
* Eltel announces rights issue
* Agreement on new long-term financing, conditional upon completion of rights issue
* Purpose of rights issue is to create a capital structure that enables financing of Eltel's new strategy Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: |
Libyan forces clash with Islamic State near Dhara oilfield | BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan forces fought suspected Islamic State fighters, killing three of them near an oilfield run by Waha Oil in the southeast of the country, a local official said on Saturday.
One soldier was killed and five wounded during two days of clashes, one of which took place near the Dhahra oilfield on Saturday, said Umar al-Faqeh, head of the Maradah administration to which the area belongs. There had been fighting already in another area on Friday, he added.
The field is operated by Waha, a joint-venture between Libya’s state National Oil Company and U.S. firms Hess, Marathon and ConocoPhillips.
The oil protection force guarding the Waha operations is allied to country’s eastern government. The U.N.-backed administration sits in the capital Tripoli in western Libya.
The North African country has been mired in conflict since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and in December armed men blew up a Waha pipeline pumping crude to Es Sider port, temporarily cutting Libyan output by around 100,000 barrels per day. Officials blamed “terrorists”, without giving details.
The area has poor security and sources say it has been populated by Islamic State fighters since they lost control of their stronghold in Libya, the central city of Sirte, in 2016. |
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Novo Banco bond swap implies losses, but sale seen on -minister | LISBON, April 12 Portugal's finance minister said on Wednesday he was confident the sale of Novo Banco will go ahead despite the prospect of further losses for bondholders in a debt swap, which is part of the sale agreement with U.S. fund Lone Star.
The sale of Novo Banco, which was carved out of Banco Espirito Santo (BES) in Portugal's biggest ever bank failure in 2014, is encountering increasing headwinds as bondholders who faced earlier losses have challenged the operation in the courts.
Portugal has until August to sell Novo Banco, the country's third largest bank, or it could face liquidation under an agreement with Brussels.
The central bank and the government reached an agreement last month with Lone Star to sell Novo Banco, but the deal falls short of recovering 4.9 billion euros ($5.2 bln) injected in the rescue operation of BES in 2014. In that rescue, Novo Banco was left with the healthy operations of BES, which became a 'bad bank' for the debts that led to its collapse.
Novo Banco is now owned by the country's bank resolution fund, which is funded by all banks operating in Portugal.
"It's true that the talks involving the Resolution Fund and the buyer are still on, and we have every expectation that the deal will be concluded," Finance Minister Mario Centeno told parliament.
Under the terms of the deal with Lone Star, Novo Banco will first have to swap 500 million euros of senior bonds for new bonds to reinforce its common equity Tier 1 capital ratio.
"Losses for bondholders is one of the pieces of the deal that the Bank of Portugal reached with Lone Star," Centeno said, adding that the swap will be a voluntary exchange and is aimed at preserving Novo Banco.
Last week Moody's Investor Service said that any debt exchange announced in the sale of Novo Banco would be seen as distressed. The ratings agency downgraded Novo Banco senior debt one notch to Caa2, implying very high credit risk.
This week bondholders led by U.S. fund BlackRock filed an injunction to block the sale over a prior, 2015 decision by the country's central bank to transfer 2.2 billion euros to a bank for bad loans, which has already led to losses for bondholders of 1.5 billion euros.
($1 = 0.9427 euros) (Reporting By Sergio Goncalves, writing by Andrei Khalip, editing by Axel Bugge and Susan Fenton) |
French services group Sodexo confirms full-year targets as H1 profits rise | PARIS, April 13 French food services and facilities management group Sodexo on Thursday posted an increase in first-half earnings and confirmed its targets of higher sales and profits for the full year.
Sodexo, which is the world's second-biggest catering company after Compass Group, said first-half operating profits, before exceptional expenses, rose 7.7 percent from a year earlier to 723 million euros ($771.5 million).
The consensus operating profit forecast, according to forecasts compiled for Reuters by Inquiry Financial, stood at 697 million euros.
Sodexo, whose profits were boosted by solid performances in north America and Asia, said it expected operating profit growth between 8 percent and 9 percent over the full year and confirmed its medium-term objectives.
Sodexo's results were published on the company's website. ($1 = 0.9371 euros) (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) |
British police say unknown substance leaves two people critically ill near Salisbury | LONDON (Reuters) - British police declared a major incident after finding a man and a woman in a critical condition who may have been exposed to an unknown substance near the southern English town of Salisbury.
Police in Wiltshire, where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a nerve agent in March, said a man and a woman were found unconscious on Saturday in Amesbury.
“Wiltshire Police and partners have this evening declared a major incident after it is suspected that two people might have been exposed to an unknown substance in Amesbury,” police said late on Tuesday.
The pair, both in their 40s, were initially believed to have taken heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs. They are being treated at Salisbury District Hospital, which remains open as usual, police said.
“However, further testing is now ongoing to establish the substance which led to these patients becoming ill and we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding this incident,” police said.
“At this stage it is not yet clear if a crime has been committed. A police investigation has been established. In addition, a full multi-agency response has been co-ordinated.”
Amesbury lies seven miles (11 kms) to the north of Salisbury, where the Skripals were found slumped unconscious on a bench on March 4.
Police said sites in both Amesbury and Salisbury that they believed the man and woman found in Amesbury had frequented would be cordoned off as a precaution.
A Public Health England (PHE) spokesman said there was not a significant risk to the wider public. |
Chargers fire coach Mike McCoy after 2nd last-place finish | The San Diego Chargers have fired Mike McCoy following a second straight last-place finish in the AFC West and a third straight season out of the playoffs. The team announced McCoy's firing about an hour after the Chargers lost 37-27 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Yuma Sun. |
Cyber attack hits 1,200 InterContinental hotels in United States | TORONTO Global hotel chain InterContinental Hotels Group Plc (IHG.L) said 1,200 of its franchised hotels in the United States, including Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, were victims of a three-month cyber attack that sought to steal customer payment card data.
The company declined to say how many payment cards were stolen in the attack, the latest in a hacking spree on prominent hospitality companies including Hyatt Hotels Corp (H.N), Hilton, and Starwood Hotels, now owned by Marriott International Inc (MAR.O).
The breach lasted from September 29 to December 29, InterContinental spokesman Neil Hirsch said on Wednesday. He declined to say if losses were covered by insurance or what financial impact the hacking might have on the hotels that were compromised, which also included Hotel Indigo, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites properties.
The malware searched for track data stored on magnetic stripes, which includes name, card number, expiration date and internal verification code, the company said.
Hotel operators have become popular targets because they are easier to breach than other businesses that store credit card numbers as they have limited knowledge in defending themselves against hackers, said Itay Glick, chief executive of Israeli cyber-security company Votiro. "They don't have massive data centers like banks which have very secure systems to protect themselves," said Glick.
InterContinental declined to say how many franchised properties it has in the United States, which is part of its business unit in the Americas with 3,633 such properties.
In February, InterContinental said it had been victim of a cyber attack, but at that time said that only 12 of its 286 managed properties in the Americas were infected with malware. |
Towering iceberg causes Newfoundland traffic jam as onlookers flock for glimpse | A towering iceberg stationed off Newfoundland's east coast is drawing dozens of people to the small shoreline community sitting in its shadow. The massive iceberg has become a star attraction in Ferryland, where cars were backed up bumper to bumper Sunday as curious onlookers tried to get a glimpse of it.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Truro Daily News. |
Schapelle Corby wears polka dot pyjamas from Kmart | She's the convicted drug smuggler known for her unassuming tastes.
And Schapelle Corby was true to form on Saturday, spending a rainy day dressed in pyjamas bought from budget retailer, Kmart.
The 40-year-old's disclosure that she's a fan of the popular department store will no doubt endear her to her legion of fans, who adore the former beautician's no-frills style.
From Kerobakan to Kmart! On Saturday, famous felon Schapelle Corby professed her love for the budget retailer by wearing a pair of their polka dot pyjamas
While Kmart may be a humble shopping destination for most consumers, no doubt the stores are quite opulent in comparison to Kerobakan prison, the infamous Indonesian correctional facility where Schapelle resided for a number of years.
On Saturday, the famous felon snapped a selfie in her economical sleepwear, which was patterned with polka dots.
Sharing the picture to her Instagram Stories, the one-time boogie board rider wrote: 'Rainy days in my Kmart pj's'.
Fringe benefits! Schapelle unveiled a striking new look on Friday after a trip to a hair and beauty salon
It's unclear if Schapelle is currently enjoying a weekend off from work, as her occupation is not currently known.
However, with the striking success of her debut pop single Palm Trees, which went viral last month, she may be considering a career as a musician.
In Saturday's snap, the social media sensation added a fun filter over the top, as she showed off her stylish new fringe, the result of a trip to a hair and beauty salon the previous day.
The beauty was treated to a spray tan, olaplex and a hair cut, sharing both a video and a picture to Instagram.
Sleek! Schapelle shared a picture of her long dark locks to Instagram
It's possible Schapelle drove herself to the beauty salon, given that she successfully acquired her L-plate licence earlier in the week.
'Driving around with the old 'L' plates on now,' she captioned a jubilant snap, that showed her holding her bright yellow plates and Queensland drivers licence.
Her sister Mercedes was overjoyed upon hearing the news, taking to the post's comments section to write: 'Yewwwwwww.' |
Ciber files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy | Information technology company Ciber Inc said on Monday that it and some of its U.S. units filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 in the U.S. bankruptcy court in the District of Delaware.
Earlier on Monday, Capgemini agreed to act as the stalking horse acquirer and buy the North American operations of Ciber for $50 million, which excludes the company's international operations and some liabilities.
The company listed assets in the range of $50 million to $100 million and liabilities in a similar range, according to the filing.
Ciber has received a commitment for up to $45 million in debtor-in-possession financing, which will be used to maintain its U.S. operations during the Chapter 11 process, the company said in a statement.
In October last year, Ciber said it was exploring strategic alternatives for the company.
(Reporting by Vishal Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair) |
Bluegrass, country Friday | Bluegrass lovers have a place to hang out Friday night as Thunder Creek takes the stage.
Start the conversation, or Read more at Smithfield Times. |
BRIEF-Consolidated Edison Recommends Shareholder Rejection Of Mini-Tender Offer By TRC Capital | April 24 (Reuters) - Consolidated Edison Inc:
* CONSOLIDATED EDISON, INC. RECOMMENDS SHAREHOLDER REJECTION OF MINI-TENDER OFFER BY TRC CAPITAL CORPORATION
* CONSOLIDATED EDISON - RECEIVED NOTICE OF UNSOLICITED “MINI-TENDER” OFFER BY TRC CAPITAL CORP TO PURCHASE UP TO 1.5 MILLION SHARES OF CON EDISON’S STOCK
* CONSOLIDATED EDISON INC - CON EDISON DOES NOT ENDORSE TRC CAPITAL’S UNSOLICITED MINI-TENDER OFFER & RECOMMENDS SHAREHOLDERS DO NOT TENDER THEIR SHARES
* CONSOLIDATED EDISON INC - CON EDISON IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH TRC CAPITAL, ITS MINI-TENDER OFFER OR MINI-TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTATION Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: |
BRIEF-O-uccino to fully acquire Seven Signatures International through stock swap on May 1 | March 29 O-uccino Inc:
* Says it will fully acquire Seven Signatures International (SSI) through stock swap on May 1
* Says one share of SSI's stock will be exchanged with 8.13 shares of the company's stock
* 48,780 shares of the company's stock will be exchanged
Source text in Japanese: goo.gl/TAyXe3
Further company coverage: (Beijing Headline News) |
Which? Elderly Care | If you don't know where to start, just answer a few questions to find information best suited to your needs.
Ken’s mother-in-law Elizabeth was becoming increasingly forgetful. He and his wife were providing constant support and knew that Elizabeth would need care while they were away on holiday.
We want to hear about your experience of caring for someone close to you. Please email us at elderlycare@which.co.uk for more information – you can of course be anonymous if you'd like.
"About five years ago it became more and more obvious that Elizabeth wasn’t remembering things from one part of the day to the next. She had notebooks all over the place but didn’t refer to them or couldn’t understand what was written there. People say, ‘Oh isn’t it fantastic to be 90-odd and still going strong,’ but it isn’t always fantastic for the carers – it can be a nightmare. Some days she could be on the phone half a dozen times, asking the same question.
Staff overloaded
She had a seven-day pill box but she wasn’t taking her medication. The social services did assessments and agreed to come in and make sure she took the pills, but they wouldn’t monitor that she was eating her meals or anything else – they said they were too overloaded at the requisite times of the day. Even the medication support took ages to get in place.
Elizabeth was referred to a psychiatrist, who said that she was a danger to herself and others, but we still had great difficulty getting responses from social workers. Time and time again they didn’t return our calls, and that really got to us. Email was only slightly more effective. It was a big strain for all of us. I kept very detailed notes of everything we did to help Elizabeth: every attempted contact and every conversation with the social services and the doctors, and what the responses were.
Getting respite care
My wife and I ran our own business and were in the habit of booking holidays up to a year ahead. We told social services about six months in advance that we were going abroad for a four-week holiday. As that time drew closer, we had no confirmation that they were actually going to do anything.
Elizabeth's condition was rapidly deteriorating and when we were three weeks from going, I wrote an email pointing out that they had either declined or avoided all our requests for a face-to-face meeting to sort this out. I explained that we didn’t know what was happening, that her doctor had said she was not safe, and that I had kept a detailed diary of every communication we’d had with them. It was a stonker of an email! I wasn’t rude, but I was very, very direct, and said that I wanted not just an answer but I wanted action.
"Be robust with the authorities without being rude."
Within two or three days they found a respite space in a care home for Elizabeth while we were away. Fortunately it was incredibly good, with fantastic staff. While we were away they assessed her and said, ‘She can’t go back into the community, she can’t live on her own, she needs permanent care,’ so she stayed in the home. Actually it was an immense relief. She’s been there 21 months now and is very well looked after. We’ve had two Christmas lunches there, the food is good and we’re looking forward to the next one!
Get evidence
My advice to other people in this position is to be robust with the authorities without being rude. You’ve got to have evidence, otherwise they can wriggle out of things. Stick to the facts, don’t get emotional and keep the pressure on."
More information
Getting a care needs assessment: find out how you can arrange a free assessment for your relative.
Types of respite care: information about the different kinds of respite care that are available.
Arranging respite care: guidance on how to go about arranging respite care.
Page last reviewed: June 2015
Next review due: September 2017 |
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South Africa's trade department, company regulator to probe Steinhoff | JOHANNESBURG, Dec 12 (Reuters) - South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission said on Tuesday they would investigate whether retailer Steinhoff had breached domestic company laws.
Steinhoff has been rocked by an accounting scandal that has wiped off billions of dollars off its market value. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Editing by Tiisetso Motsoeneng) |
BRIEF-Metanor reports operational results for the quarter ended March 31 | April 20 Metanor Resources Inc
* Metanor reports operational results for the quarter ended March 31st 2017
* Metanor Resources Inc- Gold production of 9,442 ounces during quarter
* Metanor Resources Inc- Gold sales of 10,881 ounces during quarter
* Metanor Resources Inc - Metanor revised its objective to produce between 33,000 and 36,000 ounces of gold during current year
* Metanor Resources Inc - For Barry property, Metanor will continue drilling within area of Barry open pit to increase its mineral resources
* Metanor Resources Inc - "Additionally, Metanor is increasing drilling in barry camp from one to three drill rigs" Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: |
In first, Olympics chiefs invite Vatican 'God Squad' to IOC session | VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Some go for gold. Others go for God.
For the first time, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has invited the Vatican to send a delegation to its general meeting next week in South Korea ahead of the Pyeongchang Winter Games.
The Vatican newspaper l‘Osservatore Romano reported on Friday the delegation will attend in an observer role and be headed by Monsignor Melchor Sanchez de Toca, an undersecretary with portfolio for sports at the Vatican Council for Culture, effectively its culture ministry.
Sanchez de Toca, a former pentathlete, will give IOC president Thomas Bach and all Korean athletes running vests used by the Vatican’s track team, informally known as the “Pope’s Marathoners”.
The delegation will also attend the opening ceremony of the games in Pyeongchang. A Vatican delegation attended the opening ceremony of the Rio games in 2016.
The IOC could not be reached for comment. |
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Protesters greet Amazon's Jeff Bezos in Germany | BERLIN (Reuters) - Hundreds of Amazon (AMZN.O) workers blew whistles and banged drums on Tuesday to protest against the presentation of a German award to Jeff Bezos, the ecommerce firm’s chief executive.
Amazon worker and activists protest ahead of the annual Axel Springer award ceremony in Berlin, Germany, April 24, 2018. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
Police estimated that about 450 members of trade union Verdi gathered outside the headquarters of the media company Axel Springer (SPRGn.DE), where Bezos was to receive an award at a glitzy ceremony attended by German politicians and celebrities.
“We have an Amazon boss who wants to Americanise work relationships and take us back to the 19th century,” Verdi leader Frank Bsirske told the crowd of Amazon workers, some carrying placards reading “Make Amazon pay”.
Slideshow (6 Images)
Verdi has organized frequent strikes at Amazon in Germany since May 2013 to press demands for the retailer to raise pay for warehouse workers in accordance with collective bargaining agreements in Germany’s mail order and retail industry.
Earlier on Tuesday, Andrea Nahles, the leader of Germany’s Social Democrats, the junior partners in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government, also hit out at Amazon, calling it a “world champion in tax evasion” and criticizing warehouse working conditions. “That should not earn a prize,” Nahles said.
Amazon has repeatedly rejected Verdi’s demands, saying it believes warehouse staff should be paid in line with competitors in the logistics sector, not as retail staff.
An Amazon spokesman said on Tuesday: “Amazon provides a safe and positive workplace for thousands of people across Germany with competitive pay and benefits from day one.”
Germany is Amazon’s second-biggest market after the United States and last year launched deliveries of fresh groceries in Berlin and neighboring Potsdam for members of its Prime subscription service. |
Universal HIV testing could help Saskatchewan reach 'zero cases,' advocates say | AIDS Saskatoon executive director Jason Mercredi said universal testing for HIV could help erase the stigma surrounding the disease. Those who work on the front lines of Saskatoon's fight against HIV and AIDS say they would welcome universal testing for the disease, but more supports need to be in place first.
Start the conversation, or Read more at CBC News. |
Spain's Bankia posts 28 pct rise in Q1 profit on trading gains | MADRID, April 28 Spain's state-owned lender Bankia posted on Friday a 28 percent rise in first-quarter profit from a year earlier after a fall in lending income was offset by a jump in trading gains.
Net profit for the quarter came in at 304 million euros ($330.27 million), beating an average of analysts' forecasts in a Reuters poll of 230 million euros.
Net interest income, a measure of earnings on loans minus deposit costs, was 504 million euros, down 12.7 percent from a year ago due to pressure from ultra-low interest rates.
In March, the Spanish government gave the green light to merger talks between Bankia and fellow nationalized lender Banco Mare Nostrum (BMN). The banks' boards are expected to approve the tie-up in May. (Reporting by Jesus Aguado; Editing by Angus Berwick) |
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U.S. strikes destroyed Syrian means to deliver chemical weapons - admiral | U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Porter conducts strike operations against Syria while in the Mediterranean Sea. Ford Williams/Courtesy U.S. Navy
COLOGNE, Germany U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard said on Saturday U.S. cruise missile strikes on an air base in Syria had destroyed the means to deliver chemical weapons from that base, and the U.S. military remained ready to carry out further strikes if needed.
Howard, the four-star officer who leads U.S. Naval Forces in Europe and Africa, told Reuters the United States had decided to launch the strikes after the United Nations failed to pass a resolution condemning a deadly chemical weapons attack that killed scores of people in rebel-held Khan Sheikhoun.
Washington has blamed the Syrian government for the attack on Tuesday. The Syrian government has strongly denied responsibility and blamed the deaths on leaks from a rebel chemical arms store it says was hit by a Syrian air strike.
"We conducted strikes against an air field which was the means by which the chemicals were launched into the air. Those means don't exist now," Howard said in an interview during a missile defence event in Cologne.
"We saw the misuse of chemical weapons and said, 'OK, we need to send a very clear message'".
Asked about the U.S. military's plan for how to deal with any potential further attacks, Howard said the military was ready to respond if other civilian options failed.
"As the civilian leadership works through what their options are, if other options don't pan out, then it's generally the military that gets asked to do something."
Howard declined to give any details about the flight path of the missiles, or the U.S. military assessment of the damage caused, but said she was confident the strikes had hit their intended target.
"The intention was to take out the airfield and to remove the means of the delivery of chemical weapons. I feel that was accomplished," she said.
The cruise missiles were launched by two ships in the European region, the USS Porter and the USS Ross, in close coordination with U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for the Middle East.
Howard lauded the quick action taken by the commanders and crews of the two ships in response to the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime.
Howard said the integration of the strikes was "flawless" and showed the ability of the U.S. Navy to project power around the world.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal, editing by David Evans) |
BRIEF-India's Pae Says State Bank Of India Takes Physical Possession Of Co's Mumbai Premises | March 19 (Reuters) - Pae Ltd:
* SAYS STATE BANK OF INDIA TAKEN PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF PREMISES OWNED BY CO LOCATED AT M. M. MALVIYA ROAD, MUMBAI Source text - bit.ly/2pnbVuk Further company coverage: |
Rask runs personal points streak to 20 as Bruins top Leafs | Boston’s points streak may be over, but Tuukka Rask’s is alive and well.
The former Vezina Trophy-winning goalie stopped 23 of 24 shots to extend his personal points streak to 20 games and power the Bruins past the Atlantic Division-rival Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 on Saturday night at TD Garden in Boston.
Rask improved to 18-0-2 during his streak, which is the fourth-longest in Bruins’ history and the longest since Pete Peeters’ 31-game stretch in the 1982-83 season.
Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Torey Krug and Tim Schaller each scored a goal for Boston, which won its second straight after a 3-1 loss to Anaheim on Tuesday snapped the team’s league-best 18-game points streak at 14-0-4.
Mitchell Marner had the lone goal for the Maple Leafs. Frederik Andersen saved 26 of 29 shots as Toronto snapped its four-game winning streak and lost to the Bruins for the first time in seven straight regular-season meetings.
The winning streak was the Maple Leafs’ longest since a six-game surge from Nov. 6 to Nov. 18, which included back-to-back wins against the Bruins on Nov. 10 (3-2 OT) and Nov. 11 (4-1).
Bruins captain Zdeno Chara played in his 1,400th career game, making him the fourth European-born player and the 13th NHL defenseman to reach the milestone.
Boston rookie Charlie McAvoy made his return 12 days after a heart procedure sidelined him for four games.
Bergeron’s team-leading 22nd goal from the high slot put Boston up 1-0 with 15:31 to play in the opening period. Marner tied it with his ninth goal on a power-play slap shot above the circle with 11:47 left in the first.
Pastrnak’s 21st goal, a wrist shot on a power play, with 10:38 to go in the second put the Bruins up for good. Krug’s eighth goal on a one-timer with 3:13 left in the period gave Boston some insurance.
Schaller scored his seventh goal on an empty-netter with 1:39 left.
--Field Level Media |
Cara Delevingne parades her model figure in Mexico | She has enlisted the help of her famous friends to ring in her 25th birthday during a lavish getaway to Mexico.
And continuing her celebrations in the sun on Monday, Cara Delevingne enjoyed a fun-filled outing to the beach with her girl pals - including the likes of Suki Waterhouse, Jaime Winstone and Georgia May Jagger - as she tried her hand at paragliding.
The British supermodel was seen parading her model figure in a skimpy grey bikini and at one moment, she appeared to steal a look at her assets while re-adjusting her swimwear during her latest bronzing session that came with an adrenaline filled twist.
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Bikini beauty: Cara Delevingne was seen parading her model figure in a skimpy grey bikini as she headed to the beach with her A-list pals while continuing her lavish £100k Mexican getaway to ring in her 25th birthday
Cara looked sensational for her jaunt by the sea and oozed confidence as she strolled about the sand in her scanty two-piece.
Showcasing her modelling credentials, the blonde beauty ensured her lithe physique was firmly on display as she paired together a low-cut bikini top with a pair of matching high-rise bikini briefs that drew attention to her pert behind and flashed a look at the inkings she hsa etched onto the back of her neck and just below her hip.
Sporting her edgy pixie cut, Cara shielded her face from the sun with a red visor and appeared in high spirits as she frolicked with her A-list guests in the soaring temperatures overseas.
Others celebrating alongside Cara included her sisters Poppy and Chloe Delevingne, model of the moment Adwoa Aboah, Alice Dellal, Lady Clara Paget and socialite Mary Charteris.
Peachy: Cara's scanty two-piece drew attention to her lithe physique and pert behind while showcasing her many inkings
Adrenaline junkie: Her beach visit wasn't just an opportunity to top up her tan and kick back in sunnier climes, as Cara and her friends chose to try their hand at paragliding
Mid-flight: Sporting a quirky pair of goggles and guided by an instructor, the catwalk star came over a little windswept as her short tresses caught the wind throughout the wind, with the starlet looking delighted as her feet hit the beach again
Tallulah Bernard, Eleanor Wells, Christabel Reed, Octavia Calthorpe, Niamh Watmore, Mia Lillingstone, Scarlett Alexander, Larue Loves and Sophie Kerrison are also said to have been present.
But their beach visit wasn't just an opportunity to top up their tans and kick back in sunnier climes, as Cara and her friends chose to undertake paragliding.
Loving the thrill of being attached to a parachute and gliding through the air, Cara was pictured beaming in delight as she covered up in a red and white top and shorts for the activity.
The sky's the limit! She flung her arms and legs out wide as she enjoyed the thrill mid-flight
Is that you Cara? The movie talent was barely recognisable as she reached great heights on her paragliding trip
Incoming: Cara appeared to brace herself as she came into land while her pa Mary Chateris filmed her arrival on camera
Buzzing: The blonde beauty was seen beaming from ear to ear as she landed on the sand and made sure to strike up a quick pose for a bikini-clad Mary to snap
High spirits: She was quick to cover up in a green and yellow striped towel dress before filming the flight of her friends as they closely followed behind her in the air
Loving life: And it seems paragliding was a success with Cara's pals, as they all appeared to be ecstatic on their descent
Sporting a quirky pair of goggles and guided by an instructor, Cara came over a little windswept as her short tresses caught the wind throughout the wind, with the starlet looking delighted as her feet hit the beach again.
She was quick to cover up in a green and yellow striped towel dress before filming the flight of her friends as they closely followed behind her in the air.
It's been an activity-filled trip for the girl gang, as Cara had also arranged for the lucky group to swim in an underwater cave, frolic with whale sharks and go on a jungle ride in ATV.
They had arrived on Sunday, after Cara finished promoting the release of her new film, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
A source told MailOnline: 'The Mexican premiere of Valerian marks the end of the movie's promotional tour so Cara has, very generously, decided to fly out 20 of her best girlfriends for the adventure of a lifetime.
Memorable: The activity no doubt made for yet another memorable moment on Cara's unforgettable birthday trip
Action girl! Cara cut a fearless figure while clad in a loosely fitted white top and red shorts and her parachute harness
Hugging it out: Cara appeared to give Mary a celebratory hug after she took to the air as an excited Jaime Winstone looked on while clad in a plunging glittery pink swimsuit
Supportive: The girls seemed to share each other's excitement over their successful paragliding session
She made it! The socialite was seen throwing her arms in the air to mark her arrival
Stepping behind the camera: She's usually known for being in front of the lens, but Cara took a step back to play photographer as her friends landed on the beach with their parachutes
Can you see her? As they each took it in turns to paraglide, those left on the beach were seen looking up at the sky to see their pals in action
Bikini-clad: Red appeared to be the colour of the day, with many of the group sporting the same shade swimwear
'She's invited all her closest friends, including Kendall Jenner, Suki Waterhouse, Georgia May Jagger, Jamie Winstone, and, of course, her older sisters Chloe and Poppy.'
The source said: 'The girls will be trekking in the rainforest, kayaking and going on excursions to sample the varied wildlife of the region... all finished off with a massive party to celebrate Cara's birthday at the end.
'It's a girls-only trip and Cara wanted to celebrate a busy few months of hard work and get away from it all as much as possible with those closest to her.
'It's going to be an incredible trip.'
Bronzing: Suki Waterhouse was seen accompanying Cara on the beach in a pretty black and white polka dot bikini
And pose: She was seen pulling a provocative pose on the beach, as she sat on her knees while running a hand through her tousled blonde mane
Smile! Sporting a pair of lightly tinted aviator shades, Suki also played the role of photographer as she documented yet another fun-filled day out in Mexico on her phone
Bottoms up! Suki left little to the imagination as she kicked back on the sand while alongside Cara
Having a ball: The girls were quick to strip down to their swimwear after ditching their parachute and protective clothing
Pert! The girls made sure to flaunt their enviable frames as they larked about together on the beach, with many highlighting their peachy posteriors in their high-cut swimwear
Along with taking to the skies, the girls were seen taking a moment to sun themselves on the beach.
Cara joined her friend and fellow model Suki on the sand, who looked simply stunning in a black and white polka dot bikini that teamed a halter-neck bikini with frilled bottoms.
She was seen pulling a provocative pose on the beach, as she sat on her knees while running a hand through her tousled blonde mane.
Oops! Cara seemed to narrowly avoid getting caught up in the netting of one parachute as she edged closer to film
Birthday girl: She appeared to be enjoying being the centre of attention during the girls' outing
Relaxed: Leaving behind their hectic working schedules, the girls indulged in having some time to themselves
Sensational: Cara put on a revealing display as she stripped down to her swimwear for the rest of her time on the beach - covering up her face with a red visor
Oops! She later ditched her accessory for a funky cover-up instead and narrowly avoided a wardrobe mishap as her bikini bottoms threatened to reveal a little too much as she ran across the sand
Sporting a pair of lightly tinted aviator shades, Suki also played the role of photographer as she documented yet another fun-filled day out in Mexico on her phone.
Like Suki, Cara has been keen to record their exotic all-girls getaway and shared several photos of the gang posing on a beach and a yacht to her social media channels.
The Valerian star praised her friends for jetting out to the lavish location, writing: 'I am so lucky to have such incredible friends, thank you for inspiring and supporting me ladies #Sexico.'
And not forgetting who was the star of the show, many of Cara's pals took to Instagram to write sweet tributes to the Burberry model on her birthday.
Girl gang! Others celebrating alongside Cara included her sisters Poppy and Chloe Delevingne, model of the moment Adwoa Aboah, Alice Dellal and Lady Clara Paget
Girl gang! Tallulah Bernard, Eleanor Wells, Christabel Reed, Octavia Calthorpe, Niamh Watmore, Mia Lillingstone, Scarlett Alexander, Larue Loves and Sophie Kerrison are also said to have been present
Warm welcome: They were all on hand to greet Cara as she wrapped up her paragliding ride
Exciting: It's been an activity-filled trip for the girls, as Cara had also arranged for the lucky group to swim in an underwater cave, frolic with whale sharks and go on a jungle ride in ATV
Model Georgia May Jagger penned: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE THIS AMAZING BEAUTIFUL SPECIAL WOMAN XXXX love you so much.
'THANKYOU for continuously blowing my mind and sharing this trip of a life time with me, treasured memories I shall cherish forever xxxxx
'Thank you so much for being the most amazing human and friend and for bringing all these incredible strong women together to support each other.
'Also thank you so much for making it possible for us to swim in an underwater cave, with whale sharks and go on a crazy ATV jungle ride all within 24 hours. I love you soooo much. Welcome to a quarter century.'
Pricey: They had arrived on Sunday, after Cara finished promoting the release of her new film, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, with the model reportedly splashing out £100,000 on the getaway
A source told MailOnline: 'The Mexican premiere of Valerian marks the end of the movie's promotional tour so Cara has, very generously, decided to fly out 20 of her best girlfriends for the adventure of a lifetime'
Meanwhile socialite, model and DJ Mary wrote: 'appy barfday beautiful Dellybean.
'Thank you for bringing us all together and making us all feel so loved and confident. You know how much you mean to me and to all of us. Always and forever.'
British model Clara Paget also wished her 'talented bonkers monkey' a happy birthday.
She added: 'Love you to the moon via Mexico and back again. Words don't cut it but thank you for bringing together the most incredible group of strong women for this wild adventure, Sky diving, swimming with whale sharks, racing ATV bikes through the jungle, raving and non stop laughter, not a moment wasted.
One to remember: The source continued: 'The girls will be trekking in the rainforest, kayaking and going on excursions to sample the varied wildlife of the region... all finished off with a massive party to celebrate Cara's birthday at the end'
Incredible: They added: 'It's a girls-only trip and Cara wanted to celebrate a busy few months of hard work and get away from it all as much as possible with those closest to her'
Grateful: Pleased with their paragliding adventure, Cara and the girls were seen hugging their guides on their return
String of beauties: The girls were seen excitedly coming together after they had finished their latest activity
Caught on camera! Suki was on hand to take pictures as the girls congregated on the beach
Success! They were seen celebrating with each other as they frolicked on the sand
Cloud nine: And the girls couldn't have looked happier as they bonded in the soaring temperatures
'Beautiful inside and out, blessed to have shared this earth with you for a quarter of a century, here's to the future, love you immensely my mini.'
Yoga teacher Christabel Reed gushed: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL BABY.
'Thank you for being the funnest, most sweet, inspiring woman and best friend watching you grow into the strong and independent woman you are today has been the greatest pleasure, you just get more and more amazing each day.
'I love you more than words can say little monkey so grateful to be travelling through this life with you.'
Celebrating in style: She had gathered her A-list pals for a raucous and impossibly lavish getaway to Mexico - full of tequila shots, skydiving and yacht-hopping - to celebrate her 25th birthday
Cara's adventure-filled trip comes just days after she gave an emotional interview in which she recalled the most difficult era of her life.
She confessed to Elle magazine: 'Probably [as] a teenager, especially with school and not giving yourself a break…
'That was the biggest lesson I had to learn: to communicate my emotions properly. I’m still learning how to do that.'
She continued: 'It felt like I was completely alone and I couldn’t express myself because I felt ashamed of my emotions.
Candid: Cara's adventure-filled trip comes just days after she gave an emotional interview in which she recalled the most difficult era of her life
Honest: In an interview with ELLE magazine, she admitted she had found her teenage years difficult, explaining: 'It felt like I was completely alone and I couldn’t express myself because I felt ashamed of my emotions'
Cara continued: 'I want to make sure that kids realise that emotions and vulnerability are important and should be spoken about'
Busy: Cara is also gearing up for the release of her debut novel, Mirror Mirror, which is aimed at teenage readers
'I want to make sure that kids realise that emotions and vulnerability are important and should be spoken about.'
The interview comes as Cara gears up for the release of her debut novel, Mirror Mirror, which is aimed at teenage readers.
Explaining her decision to write the book, she enthused: 'I’ve always had this wonderful connection with teenagers… Just having girls message me being like, "I’m really dealing with the pressure of my thoughts, my friends, eating disorders."
'That kind of thing, where I was like, I have an opportunity to really be there for them and help…be a voice for teens and be honest as to how I suffered as a teenager.'
Detailing the message she wants readers to take away from the novel, Cara expressed: 'That life is a beautiful mixture of wonderful disaster, but to truly love yourself is so important.'
Inspiration: She claimed that her decision to write the book was prompted by the 'wonderful connection' she has with teenage girls and the messages she has received from them
Determined: 'I have an opportunity to really be there for them and help…be a voice for teens and be honest as to how I suffered as a teenager' |
BRIEF-Qingdao Tianhua Institute Chemistry Engineering to pay no div for FY 2016 | UPDATE 3-Nestle takes food price rises in its stride
ZURICH, Aug 9 Nestle expects pressure from the rising price of ingredients for its products such as chocolate bars, coffee and soup to ease, helping it meet its target for increasing sales despite tough markets. |
UPDATE 3-Athletics-Injury floors Bolt and ruins final farewell | (Adds Blake quotes paras 14-16)
By Ian Chadband
LONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Usain Bolt's unparalleled career ended in extraordinary drama on Saturday as he pulled up with injury on the anchor leg of his very last race, the 4x100 metres relay final at the World Championships.
The 30-year-old had taken the baton for Jamaica a few metres adrift of the two leaders when, straining hard to catch them, he stopped abruptly with cramp in his left hamstring, began hobbling and tumbled to a halt after a forward roll.
As Britain went on to win gold, Bolt lay on his back in his lane, his head in hands, being tended to by medics as one waited with a wheelchair to help push him off the track.
Yet the sport's greatest entertainer was determined that one of the finest careers in sport was not going to end with him in a wheelchair.
So the fastest man of all-time, surrounded by his three worried team mates, Omar McLeod, Julian Forte and Yohan Blake, rose gingerly to his feet and limped the last 30 metres to the line.
The official result recorded that the Jamaicans did not finish but Bolt had been absolutely determined to ensure he completed the last race after a matchless career in which he won 19 major championship gold medals.
Typically, Bolt's only thoughts were with the team mates he felt he had let down.
"He kept apologising to us but we told him there was no need to apologise," Forte said. "Injuries are part of the sport."
McLeod added: "It just happened - Usain Bolt's name will always live on."
Third Place
Justin Gatlin, the American winner of the individual 100 metres who had consigned Bolt to third place in his final individual race last Saturday, paid tribute to his rival.
"I think it was the elements (that caused the injury). I'm sorry he got this injury. He is still the best in the world," Gatlin said.
"This is farewell time, I am sentimental about it already now. In the warm-up area, we give ourselves respect and greeted each other. Usain Bolt is a great athlete."
Kevin Jones, the Jamaican team doctor, said Bolt had suffered cramp in his left hamstring.
Blake was angry at having to wait for two medal ceremonies to take place before the race.
"It was 40 minutes and two medal presentations before our run ... we were kept 40 minutes. It was crazy," Blake said. "They were holding us too long.
"We keep warming up and waiting, then warming up and waiting. I think it got the better of us.
"It hurts to see a true legend, a true champion go out there and struggle like that."
Jamaican team manager Ian Forbes praised Bolt for "going out there and giving his all" and added that the squad were "very saddened".
"The diagnostic work will be done shortly to determine how serious it is. He was able to walk to the team bus so hopefully that signals it's not as serious as it possibly could be," Forbes said.
With the 56,000-strong crowd going wild about the British victory, there was still time for them to hail the sport's favourite performer, who waved to them a mite forlornly while hobbling away from the track.
Five years ago, almost to the very night, British distance running hero Mo Farah had broken into Bolt's lightning bolt pose in this same stadium and the Jamaican had reciprocated with the Briton's trademark "Mobot" to mark their joyous supremacy at the London Olympics.
Yet in the same stadium on Saturday, they attempted in vain to reprise that triumphant night, Farah ending up with silver in his final track race, over 5,000 metres, and Bolt suffering his anti-climactic farewell.
Their leaving of the track scene leaves a void in the sport that does not look like being filled any time soon. (Additional reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Ed Osmond/Peter Rutherford) |
BRIEF-Telephone and Data Systems says FCC announced U.S. Cellular was winning bidder for 188 600 Mhz spectrum licenses | April 20 Telephone And Data Systems Inc
* Telephone and Data Systems - on April 13, FCC announced U.S. Cellular was winning bidder for 188 600 Mhz spectrum licenses for aggregate purchase price of $329 million
* Telephone and Data Systems Inc says at inception of auction process in June 2016, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to FCC of $143 million
* Telephone and Data Systems Inc says U.S. Cellular is required to pay remainder of purchase price of $186 million to FCC by May 11, 2017
* Telephone and Data Systems - U.S. Cellular currently expects to make such payment using cash on hand and/or borrowings under its revolving credit agreement Source text for Eikon: (bit.ly/2pFUcAR) Further company coverage: |
Apple stock loses some sheen on disappointing iPhone sales | (Reuters) - Apple Inc’s hint of returning a ton of cash to shareholders was not enough to move investors who worried more about the iPhone maker’s weak outlook amid reports of production cuts for its flagship iPhone X.
Apple shares were down about 1.4 percent at $165.42 in early trade on Friday.
The iPhone X was the first phone to get a major design overhaul since the launch of the iPhone 6 in 2015, and many expected it to lead to blockbuster sales.
On Thursday, the Cupertino-based tech giant said it sold fewer iPhones over the holiday quarter than Wall Street expected, and sees revenue of $60 billion to $62 billion and gross margins of between 38 percent and 38.5 percent for its fiscal second quarter ending in March.
Analysts were expecting $65.7 billion in sales and a gross margin of 38.9 percent for the March quarter, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Analysts at Longbow Research said the revenue guidance implied a low 50 million iPhone shipment forecast against a consensus of 58.5 million.
“We now forecast 221 million iPhone shipments for fiscal 2018, versus the prior 235 million consensus.”
On Thursday, Apple also said it was planning, over time, to “target a capital structure that is approximately net neutral,” adding that it will “take that balance down from $163 billion to zero,” referring to Apple’s level of cash net of debt.
The comments sent its shares up about 3 percent Thursday after the bell.
”iPhone sell-through appears to have declined in the December quarter, which, along with weaker-than-expected
second quarter revenue guidance, reinforces our view of a saturated market,” KeyBanc analysts said in a note, cutting the rating on the stock to ”sector weight” from ”overweight.”“Further, gross margin results and guidance both missed our expectations, which reduces our view of potential profit growth going forward.”
Of 39 analysts who cover the stock, 29 rate it ‘buy’ or higher. However, the mixed results triggered varied responses from analysts. At least three brokerages raised their target price on the company’s stock largely banking on the possibility of cash returns, while three cut price targets.
“(Apple‘s) cash return should support the stock, but we see little to drive upside,” KeyBanc analysts said. |
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China's Lisu aim to save crossbow culture | LUSHUI, China (Reuters) - Deep inside mountains along the China-Myanmar border, a 26-year-old ethnic Lisu villager, surnamed Zhang, sharpens his crossbow arrows to prepare for a hunt.
An ethnic Lisu man carries his crossbow as he poses for a photograph during a crossbow shooting competition in Luzhang township of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province, China, March 29, 2018. REUTERS/Aly Song
For Zhang and many other Lisu, a mostly Christian minority who inhabit the border region, the crossbow is an indispensable part of their culture dating back to 200 BC.
In a country that often bans the sale of kitchen knives during political summits, it’s still normal to see ethnic Lisu openly carrying the weapon in public.
Despite a decades-old hunting ban, law enforcement remains lax and Zhang and his friends still hunt birds and rodents for sport. Before the ban, Lisu hunters traditionally went for larger game such as bears and wild boar.
Ethnic Lisu men aim their crossbows during a crossbow shooting training session at Lushui Crossbow Stadium of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province, China, March 27, 2018. REUTERS/Aly Song
Lisu technically must have a crossbow license, which are regulated by district crossbow associations.
As more young people move to urban areas for work, Cha Hairong, head of the Liuku Township Crossbow Association of Lushui city, fears the crossbow is dying out.
Slideshow (20 Images)
Cha wants to preserve the tradition by promoting crossbow shooting as a sport and attract new enthusiasts far beyond the Nu River Valley.
“Our people’s crossbow culture must enter the National Games of China. It must enter the Asian Games. It must enter the Olympic Games! So that people all over world will understand our people’s culture,” said Cha.
The Lushui government has said it is committed to the preservation of the crossbow culture.
Crossbow tournaments offering cash prizes have been held in recent years in a bid to boost interest in the sport.
Some competitors simply enjoy the camaraderie at these events.
“This is just a time where we come here to chat and tell stories,” said Zuo Zhenfu, 27, who attended a crossbow tournament in late March. |
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