The ties between India and Singapore have a deep rooted history of commercial and cultural links.The strength of the business connection between the two countries is also reflected in their growing trade. According to a report India-Singapore Relations released by the ministry of external affairs of India in September 2017, Singapore is the 10th largest bilateral trade partner of India and the second largest among the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean).Read it at Live Mint Related Items
Leadership crisis continues to haunt Odisha Congress
The Odisha Congress, which has been losing its support base in the State — its vote share eroded further in the recently held Bijepur Assembly bypoll — continues to struggle with the leadership issue with little attention from the All India Congress Committee.Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik had resigned from the post following the party’s debacle in the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State, when it lost the Opposition party status for the first time in 19 years to the BJP.However, when the AICC dissolved the OPCC office-bearers and all other committees in August, it retained Mr. Patnaik and two working presidents — Chiranjib Biswal and Pradip Majhi. This gave rise to a fresh revolt against Mr. Patnaik with several senior party members criticising his leadership and lack of ability to connect with the masses.The opposition to Mr. Patnaik’s leadership has surfaced again in the wake of the party’s dismal performance in the Bijepur bypoll. The party, which had won three consecutive elections in Bijepur in 2004, 2009 and 2014, secured only 5,873 votes while the BJP bagged 37,967 votes and winner Biju Janata Dal polled 1,35,957 votes.Demand for change A large group of dissident Congress leaders held a meeting on Wednesday demanding a change of guard in the State unit. They are of the view that necessary since the urban body polls are likely to be held in the State in the near future. Many of them demanded that Cuttack-Barabati MLA Moha-mmed Moquim be appointed the new OPCC president.Responding to queries from the media, Mr. Patnaik said he himself wants to be relieved of the party responsibilities.Reacting to the developments, senior party leader and legislator from Jatani Suresh Kumar Routray said on Thursday that those who want Mr. Moquim as next OPCC president as well as those who do not want Mr. Patnaik to continue further should meet the AICC leadership in New Delhi.Mr. Routray said that the Congress is going through a “bad phase” in Odisha and adequate measures should be taken to ensure that the leaders remain united when civic body polls are on the cards.
NCAA volleyball: Arellano storms back, survives Perpetual
Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. View comments Slow and steady hope for near-extinct Bangladesh tortoises Maria Tripoli had 20 points while Cindy Imbo added 19 for the Lady Altas, whose lead over fourth-running San Sebastian in the standings is now just half a game after falling to 4-2.Perpetual Help shot itself in the foot with 43 errors. “We played so bad in the first two sets so I made adjustments beginning the third set and things started to click,” said Arellano head coach Obet Javier in Filipino after steering his squad to its 18th consecutive win dating back to last season.Prado scored 20 points with four blocks while Marzan and Arocha scored16 and 14 points, respectively.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSLillard, Anthony lead Blazers over ThunderSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutout“I just told them to play with heart,” Prado said in Filipino. “The games become more important as the season goes so we have to treat every game like there’s no tomorrow. It’s now or never.”After a tough first four sets, defending champion Arellano showed its composure and raced to a 10-1 start in the deciding fifth set. Globe Business launches leading cloud-enabled and hardware-agnostic conferencing platform in PH PH women’s volleyball team motivated to deliver in front of hometown crowd PLAY LIST 02:25PH women’s volleyball team motivated to deliver in front of hometown crowd00:50Trending Articles01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City John Lloyd Cruz a dashing guest at Vhong Navarro’s wedding NEXT BLOCK ASIA 2.0 introduces GURUS AWARDS to recognize and reward industry influencers 2 ‘newbie’ drug pushers fall in Lucena sting
PBA suspends Camson, Almazan, Miranda LATEST STORIES Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH MOST READ Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Read Next Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netArellano University survived its toughest test yet, climbing back from two sets down to beat University of Perpetual Help, 22-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-5, in the NCAA Season 93 women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.The Lady Chiefs leaned on their trio of Jovielyn Prado, Andrea Marzan and Regine Arocha, who combined for 50 points.ADVERTISEMENT
World Cup: Sachin Tendulkar suffers niggle in knee
Sachin Tendulkar has suffered a niggle in his knee but is expected to be fit for the India-England World Cup tie in Bangalore on February 27.Sachin underwent an MRI and was found to be doing fine. The Indian team management said there was no cause for concern.Two other members of the team, Yusuf Pathan and Ashish Nehra, too have suffered niggles.”Sachin Tendulkar underwent tests and has been found to be in good health,” said Mohan Rajan, spokesperson at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital. Sachin is likely to fly to Bangalore on Monday to join the rest of the team for the match against England. “The MRI was just a precautionary measure and nothing serious at all. I am going to continue with my normal team schedule,” he said.
Athletes picked for CWG despite missing marks
On the eve of the National Inter-State Championships in Lucknow, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) issued a set of selection standards for picking the squad for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.On Monday, the AFI selection committee met in the Capital but some of the athletes, who figure in the final squad, have not achieved the prescribed norms.Among those who have been selected are all the four relay teams (men’s 4×100, men’s 4x400m, women’s 4×100, women’s 4×400) with eight athletes in each category, although the final list will be pruned to six in each category after trials at Patiala.Ashwini Akkunji has been named for the 400m hurdles and also in the women’s 4x400m. She did not make the cut in the hurdles but was allowed to compete in the individual event as she was part of the relay squad by virtue of her sixth place finish in the 400 metres.Ashwini, one of the six women athletes banned for doping in 2011, won the 400m hurdles at Lucknow in 57.43 secs against the selection standard of 56.31s. In women’s discus throw, Seema Antil, with a season opening mark of 59.72mts in California in May, has already made the cut while Krishna Poonia is also there in the squad. Poonia has been asked to attain the standard of 58.39 in an IAAF-recognized meet.Vikas Gowda figures in the team for the men’s discus throw. He recorded a throw of 65.62m in Tucson, Arizona, for his season’s best which is also the leading mark in Asia for the season. Like Gowda, triple jumper Arpinder Singh leads the Asian lists currently with his National record of 17.17m in Lucknow. He gets the nod while Renjith Maheswary finds himself out. Tintu Luka has been chosen for the 800 metres though she failed to attain the selection standard. She is also part of the 4x400m relay team.advertisement
India can medal in athletics in Olympics- AFI Chief
AdvertisementCurrent Athletic Federation of India chief Adille Sumariwalla took part at a media interaction organised by the Sports Journalists’ Association of Mumbai on Wednesday. The 11-time national 100m champion gave his valuable insights regarding India’s stance at the athletics world, and believes that India can win a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.Independent India’s hopes of winning medals in Olympics can come to an end at Tokyo 2020When asked who could end India’s drought in athletics at Olympics, the AFI chief said, “There are a lot of hopes on Neeraj Chopra (javelin) and Hima Das (400m) but I don’t want to predict anything because I’m superstitious that way. If I have to put my money on an event which we can win at next year’s World Championships or the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, I would say our best chance is in the relays.”The last time India had won a medal at Olympics in athletics was at the 1900 Paris Games when Norman Pritchard clinched two silver medals in the discipline of 200m hurdles and 200m sprint race.However, since independence, India has not won a single medal with the closest being a 4th place finish Milkha Singh and PT Usha achieved at the 1960 Rome Games and 1984 Los Angeles Games in the event of 400m sprint and 400m hurdles respectively.Advertisement
Mary Kom will not go to Rio Olympics
Five time World Champion Mary Kom will not be part of the Indian contingent in Rio Olympics 2016. The Indian boxer, who failed to secure a berth, has not been given the wildcard to participate in the Games.The International Olympic Committee has preferred to offer the wildcard to a country that did not have a major representation in boxing at the London Games. Notably, India had more than eight boxers in the previous two Games.Mary could not book an Olympic ticket after losing in the second round of the World Championships last month. IOC’s decision was conveyed to International Boxing Association (amateur) Indian representative Kishan Narsi after Indian Olympic Committee and the ad-hoc association governing boxing in the country pursued a wildcard for Mary.The ad-hoc committee wrote to AIBA, seeking what is officially called a Tripartite Commission Invitation Place. There is only one such place on offer in the 51kg category, in which Mary competes.’OUR PRIDE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE’ “It is the decision made by the International Olympic Committee that nations which has not had more than eight boxers in the last two games will be granted the card. India had eight boxers in London itself with seven men and Mary Kom among the pugilists qualifying,” Nasri was quoted as saying by TOI.Nasri added that India had to respect the ruling of IOC.”It is the IOC ruling and we have to respect that. Sadly, our pride, Mary Kom will not be able to participate in the Olympics and we have to respect that,” he added.advertisement
World Cup Opens: Brazil v. Croatia
SAO PAULO — A confident Croatia is ready to spoil Brazil’s party in their World Cup opener and continue a long tradition of first match upsets at the tournament.With all the pressure on the host team, Croatia coach Niko Kovac said that his team can deliver a “historic result” in its June 12 match in Sao Paulo.Kovac acknowledged that Brazil is the clear favorite in the Group A game, but added that few teams would like to face his squad either.“They are not going to have it easy against Croatia,” he said at Itaquerao Stadium. “We are a tricky side and I am sure that we will show that and demonstrate that tomorrow.”Even a draw would significantly enhance Croatia’s chances of advancing from a group that also includes Mexico and Cameroon.It would also deliver a blow to Brazil — a clear tournament favorite — and join the list of opening game upsets that include Belgium’s defeat of defending champion Argentina in 1982 and holder Italy being held to a 1-1 draw by Bulgaria four years later.Cameroon then defeated defending champion Argentina in 1990 while reigning champion France lost in 2002 to a Senegal side making its first appearance at the World Cup.“I am sure and convinced that tomorrow this team can create a historic result,” Kovac said. The team has surprised before.Back in 1998, no one believed that Croatia — still recovering from a bloody civil war in the Balkans in the early 1990s — could possibly finish third in its maiden World Cup. But with Real Madrid striker Davor Suker leading the way, it did.The current squad includes top players like Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and Sevilla captain Ivan Rakitic, who earlier told Croatian media he would be joining Barcelona next season — where he will team up with Neymar, his opponent on June 12.However, Croatia will have to face Brazil without prolific Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic, who is suspended after being red-carded during Croatia’s playoff against Iceland last November — the team’s final hurdle on its way to the World Cup.Team captain Darijo Srna said Croatia would rely on its fighting spirit in the opener. “I can’t promise that we will beat Brazil but I can promise that we will give our all, to the last atom of strength,” he said.The team’s notoriously boisterous fans appeared equally optimistic.Dino Bijac, a 40-year-old Croatian fan draped in his country’s red checkered jersey in downtown Sao Paulo, said his team could surprise with a draw, maybe even a win.“We’re not looking to ruin the party. We expect to have a party of our own,” he said, as a passenger from a car cruising by defiantly screamed “Brazil” in his direction. “We are ready to surprise.”(ARON HELLER)TweetPinShare0 Shares
Report: Costa Rica 1 Mexico 1
Costa Rica 1 Mexico 1: Dos Santos celebrates 100th appearance in draw Dejan Kalinic 12:09 9/6/17 
Getty Images Giovani dos Santos made his 100th Mexico appearance in a World Cup qualifying draw against Costa Rica. Costa Rica spoiled Giovani dos Santos’ 100th international appearance, holding Mexico to a 1-1 draw in World Cup qualifying.Dos Santos played a big role in the opening goal in San Jose, his effort eventually turned into his own net by the unlucky Cristian Gamboa before half-time.But the hosts had numerous chances and they levelled through the in-form Marco Urena, who struck with a volley in the 82nd minute. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Brazil, beware! Messi and Argentina out for revenge after Copa controversy Best player in MLS? Zlatan wasn’t even the best player in LA! ‘I’m getting better’ – Can Man Utd flop Fred save his Old Trafford career? Why Barcelona god Messi will never be worshipped in the same way in Argentina Both goalkeepers – Keylor Navas and Guillermo Ochoa – were tested regularly during the encounter on Tuesday.Mexico had already secured their spot at the World Cup, while Costa Rica moved a step closer with the point, now unable to finish any lower than the CONCACAF play-off spot.Unsurprisingly, Oscar Ramirez opted to stick with the same starting line-up that stunned the United States 2-0 in their previous outing.Juan Carlos Osorio returned to the Mexico bench after serving his six-game ban, and he made plenty of changes to the team that edged Panama 1-0 to secure their spot in Russia.Giovani dos Santos started in his 100th international appearance, and his brother Jonathan was also in the 11, while Javier Hernandez dropped to the bench.Un centenar de partidos defendiendo nuestros colores.¡Qué vengan más, @OficialGio! #PasiónyOrgullo pic.twitter.com/OjU4IoKkRV— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) September 6, 2017Bryan Ruiz almost gave Costa Rica a dream start, but Ochoa produced a fine save to deny the attacker in the opening minute.Both teams looked energetic in the opening stages, with Navas palming away a close-range Diego Reyes effort after a corner on the half-hour mark.In what was an open encounter, the hosts had the next big chance in the 41st minute, but Ruiz blazed over from the edge of the area.However, Mexico went up the other end and opened the scoring.Raul Jimenez burst clear down the right before crossing for Giovani dos Santos, who chested an audacious effort towards goal.Navas made the save but the ball deflected off the unlucky Gamboa and into the back of the net despite the Real Madrid goalkeeper’s desperation.Mexico should have doubled their lead on the counter-attack in the 65th minute, but substitute Jesus Corona’s effort was too narrow and Navas saved.Urena, who scored a brace in the win over USA, tested Ochoa in the 76th minute, the shot-stopper tipping his powerful strike over the bar.But there was no stopping Urena’s strike in the 82nd minute.The San Jose Earthquakes forward scored with a tremendous volley from 20 yards and Costa Rica almost secured all three points, Johan Venegas hitting the post in additional time. read more
10 months agoBournemouth boss Howe insists Mousset not for sale
Bournemouth boss Howe insists Mousset not for saleby Paul Vegas10 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveBournemouth boss Eddie Howe insists Lys Mousset is not for sale.The French forward, linked with Fulham, played in Bournemouth’s 1-0 loss at Chelsea and Howe said he was impressed with his performance. Of Mousset he said: “I thought he did very, very well tonight. That’s probably his best performance for the club. “His fitness levels were much improved. Technically I thought he produced a really high level game. And he’s a big part of our future.”Mousset has struggled for games since joining Bournemouth in a £5.4m deal from Le Havre in 2016, making just seven Premier League starts. TagsTransfersAbout the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
INX Media money laundering case SC extends protection to Chidambaram by a
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday extended till tomorrow protection from arrest granted to former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case. A bench of Justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna said it would hear the arguments of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Chidambaram’s two petitions, including the challenge to remand orders, on Wednesday. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, filed an application seeking direction to the ED to produce the transcripts of the questioning conducted on December 19 last year and January 1 and January 21 this year in the case. Also Read – India gets first tranche of Swiss bank a/c details Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, said he would like to reply to the fresh application during the course of his arguments. The transcripts will show whether Chidambaram was evasive during his questioning, as alleged by the ED, Sibal said. He also told the bench that the ED cannot place documents in the court randomly and “behind the back” for seeking Chidambaram’s custody. “They are just producing documents at random and saying this is part of the case diary,” Sibal said, adding, “They cannot place the documents behind the back and seek custody of accused.” Also Read – Tourists to be allowed in J&K from Thursday Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also appearing for Chidambaram, referred to the constitutional and legal provisions and said that fundamental right of citizens under Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) cannot be suspended. Singhvi argued that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was amended in 2009 whereas the allegations in the case are of 2007-2008. “You try and paint a person as a kingpin when these alleged offences did not exist at that time,” he told the court during the arguments which will continue in the post lunch session. The apex court had on Monday extended till Tuesday the protection from arrest given to Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case lodged by the ED. Chidambaram was the Union minister for finance as also home during the UPA-I and UPA-II government from 2004 to 2014. The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram’s tenure as the finance minister. Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case against him in 2017.
Montrealers say siren system to warn of industrial leak not distinctive enough
MONTREAL – A siren system that was tested on Tuesday and designed to alert Montrealers about any major industrial accident was too weak and not distinctive enough, according to some citizens.A series of alert sirens echoed from nine factories across the island in a noisy test of the system which would be used to alert the population if there were a leak of toxic products such as ammonia or acid.“It’s not very distinctive,” said Shanta, who was walking with two friends along busy Sainte-Catherine Street in the city’s Gay Village, a few streets away from the Molson Coors brewery.The brewery was one of the locations equipped with the system, which is designed to alert citizens who are outside to quickly head inside the nearest building, close all doors and windows and turn off any ventilation system.“It was almost like a big ambulance was passing by,” said Shanta. “We need a big ‘oooooh,’ ” she added, trying to mimic a sound she thought was more powerful.“We need something that really sets itself apart from all the noises in downtown Montreal.”The sirens were tested for three minutes at each of the factories.Authorities said the one-hour exercise was aimed at ensuring the sirens were operating properly.It was also a chance to check the level of preparedness of all teams involved in emergency measures.If a toxic leak were to occur, the sirens would serve as notice for people outdoors but Donald Picard, who was inside at the time, said the sound should be louder so people indoors would know not to leave.“I was inside and didn’t hear anything — it was quite discreet,” he said, smoking a cigarette down the street from the Molson factory.“I would say we need something that pierces the ear a little more. It could have been just regular traffic.”In the case of a real leak, parents would also be urged to not go get their children at school because that would put them all in danger.Listening to music outside could also be problematic.A young woman walking outside took off an earbud and said, “I had my headphones on so I didn’t hear anything.”
CannabisNB to be the name of recreational cannabis stores in province
FREDERICTON – CannabisNB will be the name of the New Brunswick government’s cannabis retail stores when they open next year.The government announced earlier this fall that a subsidiary of NB Liquor will operate 20 stores in 15 locations across the province when recreational cannabis is legalized in July 2018.The products will be displayed under glass and will only be sold to people 19 years of age and older.Finance Minister Cathy Rogers says the provincial government has introduced legislation focused on ensuring public health and safety is respected by having strong regulations for production, distribution, and sale of cannabis.Nova Scotia and P.E.I. both set their legal age for marijuana at 19 last week, but are taking different paths on how weed will be sold.P.E.I. will sell marijuana at standalone outlets run separately by its liquor commission, while Nova Scotia said pot will be sold alongside alcohol in its provincial liquor stores.
CONGRATULATIONS TO NABIL AYOUB AND SARAH CAMACHO
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Advertisement Every month, the Toronto Monologue Slam features twelve actors who are given 3 minutes each to shine, impress and win! A panel of industry professionals and audience members decide who is the night’s best performance. The TO Slam Champ receives $100.00, prizes, and the honor of defending the title at the next show.Congratulations to Nabil Ayoub and Sarah Camachoon on their Tag Team Scene Championship at The Toronto Monologue Slam yesterday! Facebook
Prime Minister asked to help dying children in Tyendinaga
APTN National NewsPrime Minister Stephen Harper has been asked to help find out why there’s been a spike in childhood leukemia on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.Harper received a letter from concerned mother Kimberly Maracle Friday demanding to know what the Canadian government is doing pinpoint the cause.“As a mother living on this territory, with a 12 year old child going to school on the territory at the same school that the other children are coming down sick … What is the Canadian government going to do about this situation?” said Maracle in her email. “Are your offices aware of this epidemic?”Tyendinaga is a community of about 2,600 people about 2 hours east of Toronto. Within the last year three cases of leukemia have been confirmed on the reserve and another two just north in Tyendinaga Township. APTN National News reporter Delaney Windigo first reported the story Nov. 5.She spoke with parent Dawn Sero who lost her daughter Paula, 13, in September a few months after she was diagnosed. Fellow resident Shawn Brant’s daughter is currently fighting for her life in The Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto.In recent days, APTN National News has been in contact with Chief Don Maracle who says water tests at the Quinte Mohawk School have come back showing no contaminants but further water tests haven’t been able to pinpoint a cause.Maracle says Health Canada has agreed to be part of a committee to root out the problem. Doctors, scientists, band council members and parents will also sit on the committee.“Health Canada has been contacted by (Maracle) requesting that the department participate on a committee of stakeholders to undertake a further investigation. Health Canada has agreed to participate,” said a spokesperson in an email. “In keeping with best practices for investigating disease clusters, Health Canada offers to conduct analyses, in conjunction with local and provincial health partners, to help identify possible trends and risk factors in situations of this nature.”Kimberly Maracle questions whether the band council has done enough.“There is an epidemic of our children getting sick on our territory,” she wrote, adding other children have brain tumors and open sores on their bodies. “We are in a crisis situation.” kjackson@aptn.ca
Provincial surplus rises as growth remains stable in BC finance minister
VICTORIA – The British Columbia government is forecasting a growing budget surplus and economic growth that will lead Canada in the coming year despite dropping real estate tax revenues and declining property sales.The latest budget update released Friday forecasts a budget surplus of $669 million, which is $450 million higher than was projected in February’s budget. Finance Minister Carole James said B.C.’s economic growth projections of 2.2 per cent this year and 1.8 per cent in 2019 are among the highest in Canada.James said she welcomed the most recent Finance Ministry data showing reduced revenues from property transfer taxes and sales declines since April.“I truly believe B.C. has to move away from an economy that is built on speculation in real estate to a more sustainable approach,” she said at a news conference.The financial update for the first three months of the fiscal year includes a decline in property transfer tax revenue of $250 million as property sales dropped by 19.4 per cent from April to June.Opposition Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said he sees jobs losses and a sputtering economy in the near future.“Carole James is admitting that the only NDP plan is to shrink the real estate part of the economy, reduce the value of peoples houses and have a dramatic drop in the construction sector, and nothing is going to change in terms of affordability because prices are staying where they’ve been,” he said.James said the most recent numbers do not show declines in property prices.“The biggest risk to B.C.’s economic growth right now, one of the biggest risks, is the issue of unaffordable housing,” she said. “We aren’t able to attract employees. We aren’t able to retain people in business because of the increasing price in housing.”Last February, the province’s minority NDP government tried to ease the province’s housing crisis with a budget that introduced a new tax on property speculators, higher taxes on foreign home buyers and plans to create 114,000 affordable housing units over the next decade.James said the government doesn’t control all the factors that relate to housing, including interest rates and mortgages rules, but it does want property prices to moderate and vacancy rates to increase.The latest financial results “show that the housing market is moderating and we’re seeing strong growth and we’re continuing to see surpluses and we’re continuing to balance the budget,” she said.
BC Court of Appeal to hear provinces oil transport reference case Monday
VANCOUVER, B.C. – British Columbia’s Court of Appeal will consider a key question regarding provincial powers in the political battle over the future of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project during a five-day hearing that starts Monday.The B.C. government’s reference case asks the court if the province has jurisdiction to regulate the transport of oil through its territory and restrict bitumen shipments from Alberta.Specifically, it asks if proposed amendments to British Columbia’s Environmental Management Act are valid and if they give the province the authority to control the shipment of heavy oils based on the impact spills could have on the environment, human health or communities. The province is also asking the court whether the amendments are overridden by federal law.Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have said only Ottawa, not the provinces, has the authority to decide what goes in trans-boundary pipelines.Alberta and Saskatchewan have both filed documents as interested parties supporting the federal government in the case.When B.C. filed the reference case last year, Alberta announced it would ban B.C. wines and accused Horgan of trying to break the rules of Confederation in newspaper ads.Last summer, the Federal Appeal Court overturned approval of the project to triple oil shipments from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C., ruling that the National Energy Board had not properly considered its impact on marine life nor had Ottawa meaningfully consulted with Indigenous groups.Last month, the board found that the pipeline is still in the public interest despite the risk that an increase in tanker traffic could adversely affect southern resident killer whales, hurt related Indigenous culture and increase greenhouse gas emissions. It added 16 new recommendations for federal government action in addition to the 156 conditions in its initial approval in 2016. The federal government purchased the pipeline last year.Trudeau has said the expansion is in the best interests of all Canadians and his government has committed $1.5 billion to an ocean protection plan that includes millions for research on B.C. killer whales.Horgan said last year the aim of the case is to protect the province’s coastline and economy from the harms of an oil spill.“We believe it is our right to take appropriate measures to protect our environment, economy and our coast from the drastic consequence of a diluted bitumen spill,” Horgan said in a statement when the reference case was announced last April.
“And we are prepared to confirm that right in the courts.”
Energy sector helps lift Toronto stock market as price of oil climbs
The Canadian Press TORONTO — The energy sector helped lift Canada’s main stock index in late-morning trading, while the price for oil climbed higher.The S&P/TSX composite index was up 66.70 points at 16,424.45.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 95.60 points at 26,060.69. The S&P 500 index was up 7.57 points at 2,891.62, while the Nasdaq composite was up 23.98 points at 7,987.74.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.31 cents US compared with an average of 74.21 cents US on Tuesday.The June crude contract was up 76 cents at US$62.16 per barrel and the June natural gas contract was up 7.3 cents at US$2.61 per mmBTU.The June gold contract was down US$1.50 at US$1,284.10 an ounce and the July copper contract was down 0.2 of a cent at US$2.78 a pound. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)
Ontarios debt will balloon to 350 billion in five years financial accountability
TORONTO — Ontario’s financial accountability officer says it’s possible the Liberal government can keep its promise to balance the books by 2017-18, but only if the economy grows at a stronger pace than in the past five years.And even if they do get to balance on schedule, Stephen LeClair predicts the province will quickly be plunged back into annual budget deficits.LeClair also warns the accumulated deficits and the Liberals’ “large infrastructure plans” will add $54 billion over the next five years to the province’s net debt, which he says will hit $350 billion.Canadians with subprime credit ramp up the debt, Alberta delinquencies on the rise: reportRoss McKitrick: Climate crazy Ontari-ari-ario’s no place to grow, but to get the hell out ofKevin Libin: Ontario’s big, green assisted economic suicide planLeClair’s forecasts are less optimistic than the government’s — he projects a $580-million shortfall in 2017-18, but concedes there’s enough flexibility in the Liberals’ plan that they could eliminate the red ink that year as promised.He warns there will be increasing spending pressure on the government from demographic changes and higher costs of services, and points out the province is relying on growth to exceed the average in recent years.If growth maintains the same pace, LeClair says there would be a deficit of $1.4 billion in 2017-18, growing to $3.5 billion by 2020-021.He projects government revenues will grow at an average pace of 3.8 per cent a year, faster than the 2.6 per cent pace in the last four years.LeClair says Ontario’s net debt-to-GDP ratio will peak at 39.6 per cent this year, falling slightly to 38.4 per cent by 2020-21. He says the Liberals have given no details of how or when they’ll keep a promise to cut it to 27 per cent.LeClair also says employment is expected to grow steadily, reflecting growth in the economy, but says on average Ontario will add about 80,000 new jobs a year, gradually reducing the unemployment rate to six per cent by 2020.
Four teenagers accused of planning to travel to Syria to join Isil
Mohanned Jasim Four teenagers accused of planning to travel to Syria to join Isil have appeared in court on terror charges.The young men, who are all from London, were said to be plotting to carry out acts of terrorism abroad.Two of them are charged with going to the gym and paintballing as training for their plans while the other two are accused of buying flights and visas to Turkey and survival equipment.They are all also accused of having extremist material and swapping messages online discussing how to get out to the war-torn country.One of them allegedly had a video on his phone of battles, crusades and prisoners of IS being executed.Another is charged with having details about how to build a pressure cooker bomb.A fifth boy, aged 15, is accused of having terrorist materials, including Isil publication Inspire and a bomb-making video.All five appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, supported by their families. A 16-year-old from Lambeth is charged with preparation of terrorist acts and a 17-year-old from Hounslow has been charged with preparation of terrorist acts and dissemination of terrorist publications.Ahmedeltigani Alsyed, 19, of Hounslow, and a 17-year-old from Merton, are each charged with a count of preparation of terrorist acts and collection of information contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Meanwhile, two men were sentenced on Saturday to a total of seven years and two months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to terrorism offences at the Central Criminal Court. Mohammed Mayow, 23, from Middlesex and Mohanned Jasim, 21, from Southall, were arrested at Dover Eastern Docks by Kent Police as they tried to leave the country in December 2015. Mohammed Mayow The four appeared together in the dock and were ordered to appear at the Old Bailey on March 17.The 15-year-old, of Waltham Forest, appeared in a separate youth hearing at the same court.He pleaded not guilty to one charge of possession and two counts of dissemination of terrorist publications and is due to stand trial on May 2 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.Four of the teenagers were arrested at addresses in south and west London on Tuesday while the 15-year-old boy was arrested on Monday evening in east London. Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings. 
Four teenagers accused of planning to travel to Syria to join Isil 
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