By Kathleen Martens APTN National News WINNIPEG — Canada’s chief adjudicator for the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement’s Independent Assessment Process (IAP) has resigned, APTN Investigates has learned.Dan Ish gave his written notice to the IAP’s Oversight Committee a few weeks ago, saying it will be effective in June.Ish has been overseeing the multi-billion dollar program since being appointed for five years in Sept. 19, 2007.However, the IAP has received triple the expected number of applications from former residential school survivors, something Ish cited in stepping down.The deadline for applications expired Sept. 19, 2012, but the work is expected to continue for several more years.Sources say Ish’s resignation was accepted “with regret” by the IAP Oversight Committee at its meeting in Vancouver last month. Ish was not immediately available for comment.The meeting occurred only a week after Ish was once again before Vancouver’s Supreme Court seeking court approval to investigate a lawyer for a suspected breach of IAP guidelines.Justice Brenda Brown rejected the request for a potentially lengthy, multi-million dollar investigation. She instead mediated an agreement for the Indian Residential School Adjudication Secretariat (IRSAS) to review the IAP casework of Vancouver lawyer Stephen Bronstein, with an option to order a full investigation down the road.The IRSAS is probing Bronstein’s alleged connection to Ivon Johnny, a 62-year-old, convicted murderer who said he was doing IAP intake work for Bronstein while on parole. However, former students in the Chilcotin communities around Williams Lake, B.C., complained Johnny was extorting money from their compensation payouts.Johnny’s full parole was revoked in January as a result of the complaints.It was also complaints from former students that led to a $3.5-million investigation into Calgary lawyer David Blott in November 2011. Brown kicked Blott and others out of the IAP after investigators found he violated the trust of his vulnerable clients, wrongly provided loans against their compensation claims, and improperly charged them interest, penalties or fees.Blott represented more than 4,000 claimants across Canada.The compensation is for survivors who suffered serious physical and sexual abuse while young students at Canada’s notorious Indian Residential Schools. The most recent statistics provided by IRSAS show $1.8-billion has been spent completing the claims of about 75,000 former students.kmartens@aptn.ca@kmarte
Reddit raises $300M in finance round led by China’s Tencent
SAN FRANCISCO — Social media service Reddit Inc. says it has raised $300 million in a financing round led by Chinese internet giant Tencent.Reddit’s CEO, Steve Huffman, told CNBC on Monday that values the privately held company at $3 billion.Half the new money came from Tencent, Asia’s most valuable tech company. Other investors included Sequoia, Fidelity, Andreessen Horowitz, Quiet Capital, VY and Snoop Dogg.The announcement prompted criticism of Reddit for linking itself with a company from China, where the ruling Communist Party enforces extensive online censorship. Access to Reddit is blocked in China.Tencent operates online games and popular WeChat social media service. It owns 40 per cent of “Fortnite” creator Epic Games and 15 per cent of photo service Snap.The Associated Press
Number of Irregular Moroccan Migrants in Spain Increased 8-Fold in 2…
Rabat – Spanish news outlet Diarodesvilla shared statistics from the Spanish Ministry of Interior, saying that by the end of October, 10,060 irregular Moroccan migrants had arrived in Spain so far this year, up from 1,310 in the same period in 2016.The news outlet reported that 90 percent of the migrants arrived in Spain by sea to Andalusia and the rest to the Canary Islands.The news outlet added that some of the irregular migrants returned to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta and Melilla, where they asked for asylum. Read Also: Morocco’s Royal Navy Rescues 181 Irregular MigrantsMoroccan migration might increase in the coming years as a new Gallup survey has estimated that Morocco would lose 19 percent of its adult population and 29 percent of its 15 to 29-year-olds if migration were completely possible.To help ease the pressure of migration on Morocco, the European Union said that it will grant financial aid to Morocco to help combat irregular migration.The EU will give Morocco €148 million in the coming days, according to a statement from the EU Commission.The statement, issued on December 14, said that the EU is currently “stepping up its assistance to Morocco to combat irregular migration in a context of increased migratory pressures along the western Mediterranean route.”According to El Pais, Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) said that Moroccan immigration “peaked 10 years ago as there were 70,000 arrivals of migrants.” In 2017 39,000 migrants arrived in Spain from Morocco.Spanish and Moroccan news outlets reported today that Spain has dismantled a Moroccan human trafficking network operating between Spain and Morocco.The suspects involved in the network, all of which were Moroccans, were arrested. EFE reported that network has been labeling itself as a “travel agency” based in Larache, a city near Tangier in northern Morocco. The suspects charged the irregular migrants a minimum of €2,500 per passenger.
Most actively traded companies on the TSX
Some of the most active companies traded Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange:Toronto Stock Exchange (15,172.72, up 0.31 of a point):Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Aerospace, rail equipment. Down four cents, or 1.65 per cent, to $2.38 on 22.4 million shares.Manulife Financial Corp. (TSX:MFC). Financial Services. Down 14 cents, or 0.57 per cent, to $24.27 on 15.3 million shares.Trican Well Service Ltd. (TSX:TCW). Oil and gas. Down five cents, or 1.27 per cent, to $3.90 on 15.2 million shares.Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD). Bank. Up 18 cents, or 0.27 per cent, to $67.45 on 14.6 million shares.Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE). Oil and gas. Down nine cents, or 0.81 per cent, to $11.02 on 14.4 million shares.Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Oil and gas. Down eight cents, or 0.19 per cent, to $41.55 on 14.1 million shares.Companies reporting major news:Eldorado Gold Corp. (TSX:ELD). Miner. Down eight cents, or 2.76 per cent, to $2.82 on 11.2 million shares. The Canadian gold miner says it has received another permit and the approval of a technical study for the closure of its Old Olympias mine in Greece.
New sports complex a boost for Norwich
Like the rest of Oxford County, Norwich township opens its fields May 1, as the weather permits, but it’s expected to take a bit of extra time to ensure the grass fields at the new sports plex will remain in good shape after they’re used.Hovorka said the municipality will aerate and overseed to let the root base grow, while the lack of an irrigation system means the fields will need to rely on spring rains to help.The fields will hopefully create a boost for Norwich Minor Soccer while also giving people another area to exercise in the township through the addition of the walking track.“We’re anticipating it’ll be a boost for them once the fields open. that’s what we’re hoping for. We’re very excited about the fields,” Hovorka said. “Because we’ve added the perimeter walking path, it’ll be well used by family and friends at soccer games. It’s also open seven days a week so anyone can use it. It’s a very safe and level surface. We’ve had positive feedback since we’re creating an area all people can use.”Hovorka said the project began shortly after receiving the trillium grant and was finished by late November before the first snowfall.After missing out in 2017, Norwich was approved March 1, 2018, and work began April 16, 2018, after reporting to council during its April 10, 2018, meeting.He said the project cost about $200,000, with $10,000 coming from Norwich Minor Soccer and the rest from the township’s budget, but was originally estimated at about $300,000. Hovorka said the savings came from different strategies to cut costs without sacrificing quality.The location is the former Norwich Golf Course, which meant the soil was in usable condition. Rather than digging up and trucking out the existing soil to bring in new product, the township was able to use what was there.The township lifted the existing soil and used a screener to sift through the dirt to remove large objects such as rocks and roots. The workers then put it in large piles to have it ferment before relaying it.Hovorka said that process saved about $80,000 and also saw several people in the community pitch in.“It was a big undertaking. … We had a few strategies to cut costs and local sponsors really helped us a lot,” he said. “Without those people, it wouldn’t have happened. We’ve got such great community minded people. We’re very lucky to have the people we do.”Now with an extra recreation space, the goal is to get as much use as possible for the new facility.“We’re looking forward to opening it up and have people in the community use it. It’s already getting some walkers which is terrific,” Hovorka said. “The more you can get community people involved in recreation, that’s the main goal. It’s been a common theme for us to install paved pathways to enhance accessibility and encourage people to use it and get active.”gcolgan@postmedia.com Norwich township will have a sparkling new recreation facility by this summer.The township plans to open the Norwich Soccer Plex in the spring, with its three soccer pitches in use by mid-summer at the latest. The recreation facility also has a paved perimeter track for walking and exercise.Pat Hovorka, Norwich township’s director of community development services, said the township had anticipated completing the project over the coming years. But when the municipality received a $150,000 grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, they were able to do the work in 2018.“We’ve catered to hockey and baseball quite a bit, and they have top-notch facilities, and we got some funding through (the) trillium (program),” he said. “We’ve had it in our budget for a few years down the road, but we fast forwarded it with the trillium grant.“We always wanted some fitness and walking trails, and it’s accessible with extra wide pathways to give a lot of room.”The fields are located north and east of the municipal administration building on Airport Road and includes one full-size adult field, an intermediate-size field and the mini-field. Parking will have access off of Airport Road to the east of the two new pitches.The first steps began a few years ago when the municipality created a mini-field, but the trillium grant gave Norwich a shot in the arm.The township was able to finish seeding and fertilizing the fields before the snow came, and it will be adding winter fertilizer to hopefully create a root base for the fields to come through in the spring.“It all depends on the root base,” Hovorka said. “We’re crossing our fingers it’s playable by early summer.” Norwich Township will open the Norwich Soccer Plex in the spring, with the three soccer fields able to be used by mid-summer at the latest. The recreation facility also has a paved perimeter track for walking and exercise.Submitted photo
Gaming has become more mainstream Football Manager chief
Certainly, journalists who’ve grown up playing video games, as they start getting editorial positions, it does improve things, but it’s improving because gaming is becoming more mainstream in general.I still haven’t seen the guys who made Call of Duty on chat shows and stuff like that. I think there have been a couple of instances in America where people have gone on, but it’s normally to do game demos. COMPUTER GAMES HAVE become more mainstream and acceptable in the eyes of the media over the past two or three years, according to one of the former industry’s most influential figures.Having previously lamented the reluctance of those in influential positions to embrace the video-gaming industry, studio director of the multi-million-selling Football Manager series, Miles Jacobson, now feels there is a more accepting attitude towards the industry.Jacobson, who received an OBE in 2011 for his services to the gaming industry, admits there are some cynical reasons behind this change.“I think it’s partly improved because the games industry advertises more in the mainstream media now,” he told TheJournal.ie. “Therefore, they take us more seriously because they’re making more money out of us.”However, he also feels the transformation is partly as a result of the growing prominence and popularity of games at all levels. “But it’s still going to take time [before games gain full acceptance]. When Elvis Presley came along, it was described as the devil music and he did alright for himself. People [who criticise games] just don’t understand them. It’s just a form of entertainment.”And despite his success, Jacobson and his colleagues are not universally loved within the industry.Several installments of the Football Manager series are among the highest-selling PC games of all time, and this level of success has somewhat inevitably attracted skeptics.“It’s more popular inside the football world than it is inside the video game world. And that’s quite an interesting thing.“We’re kind of seen as the Status Quo of the video games industry, but when you look at us from a football perspective, people are using our database to aid their work and I think we’re a lot cooler in football circles than we are in video game circles.“Maybe we’re more like Boyzone than Status Quo. Boyzone were always popular among footballers, but weren’t that cool within the music industry.”Our full interview with Miles Jacobson will be up on the site from 12pm today.Football Manager 2014 was released this week. More details here.How Championship Manager sabotaged my Junior Cert>Fascinating Web Summit start-ups you need to hear about>
Dead pigs in river show dark side of China food industry
THOUSANDS OF DEAD pigs in a Shanghai river have cast a spotlight on China’s poorly regulated farm production, with the country’s favourite meat joining a long list of food scares.As of Friday, the number of carcasses recovered in recent days from the Huangpu river – which cuts through the commercial hub and supplies over 20 per cent of its drinking water – had reached more than 7,500.Shanghai has blamed the farmers of Jiaxing in neighbouring Zhejiang province for casting pigs thought to have died of disease into the river upstream, but officials from the area have admitted to only a single producer doing so.The city has stepped up inspections of markets to stop meat from the dead animals from reaching dining tables of its 23 million people.From recycled cooking oil to dangerous chemicals in baby milk powder, a series of food scandals in China has caused huge public concern.Pork is king in China, accounting for 64 per cent of total meat output last year, and urban residents with growing wallets and waistlines ate 20.63 kilograms (45lbs) of the meat per person in 2011.Images of Shanghai’s dead pigs have hit the nation’s collective gut, but in Zhulin village, a major hog-raising centre in Jiaxing, the farmers claim their innocence in the scandal.“The government is very strict. We give our pigs vaccinations. If they are sick, they can’t be sold,” said Pan Juying, 57, as she hoisted two baskets of freshly cut grass to feed her eight pigs.But a bloated piglet lying by the roadside a hundred metres away from a stream showed that not all dead animals are properly disposed of.A pig floats among the rubbish on the river (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)Wang Wei, a veterinarian for the Hengyuan Company which produces medicines for farm animals, said a large number of pigs died from unknown causes in Zhejiang just before and after the Chinese Lunar New Year in February.“It must have been a big pig farm” that was responsible for events in Shanghai, he said in Zhulin’s main street, which is lined with animal medicine and feed stores.They can’t control an outbreak of infectious disease.Despite laws against the practice, animals that die from disease in China can end up in the food supply chain or improperly disposed of.In Wenling, also in Zhejiang, authorities announced this week that 46 people had been jailed for up to six-and-a-half years for processing and selling pork from more than 1,000 diseased pigs.Not the first food safety issueChina was rocked by one of its biggest-ever food safety scandals in 2008 when the industrial chemical melamine was found to have been illegally added to dairy products, killing at least six babies and making 300,000 people ill.Across China, cheap recycled cooking oil is available made illegally from leftovers scooped out of restaurant drains. Amid public disgust authorities arrested more than 30 people over its sale, but it remains commonplace.In another recent incident, US fast food giant KFC was hit by controversy after revealing some Chinese suppliers provided chicken with high levels of antibiotics, in what appeared to be an industry-wide practice.Zhu Yi, a professor at China Agricultural University, said that the country’s vast number of small-scale farmers were “hard to supervise and regulate”.“Food safety is an issue that requires continuous efforts, you simply cannot put everything right once and for all,” she said.The current livestock breeding model is too crude, and the standards too low.But large-scale production also carried risks of its own, she added.“Every country has its own problems,” she said. “The highly industrialised European Union was caught up by the horse meat scandal.” – © AFP, 2013Read: Sky News reporter broadcasts arrest live on TV > Read: Trinity signs student exchange deal with China’s biggest university >
Man donates kidney to stranger after seeing Facebook post
A heartwarming video from Beaumont Hospital in Michigan shows two men explaining why one decided to donate a kidney to the other — but there’s a twist. Everyone’s favorite social network had a hand in connecting the two.Thirty-five-year-old Jeff Kurze was in desperate need of a kidney. He’d already had one stroke, and the dialysis was extremely physically draining. The wait list for a kidney was three to five years long, which was too long for Kurze’s wife Roxy to wait.AdChoices广告Facebook statuses are often used to tell your friends about the great concert you just went to, or to complain about all the homework you have to do tonight, but one status update changed everything. Roxy wrote on Facebook that she was “wishing a kidney would fall out of the sky so my husband can stop suffering.” She asked if anyone knew of a live donor with type O blood, and to please let her know. Lo and behold, she got a response, and, surprisingly, it was from someone who was virtually a stranger.Ricky Cisco, 25, was friends with Roxy on Facebook through a distant work relationship. Neither of them actually knew each other. Cisco knew he had type O blood, and noticed Roxy’s plea for help one day while checking the site. Cisco said he’d never thought about donating a kidney, but was intrigued about what it entailed, so he started doing some research. Cisco realized that donating a kidney was less dangerous than driving to work every day, and said he really had no excuse to fall back on once he realized how safe it was.When Cisco met Jeff, the two realized they’d already met briefly when Jeff sold him a laptop about a year before that. Cisco said in the video that he “always wanted to be a hero,” but since he’s not very strong and can’t lift anything, he can’t save people in traditional ways.The transplant was done on March 30, and the video below shows the two telling their story two days before the surgery at Beaumont Hospital in the Detroit area. The two have become friends through this and now see each other at least once a week.See? Facebook really is where friends meet.Via MSNBC’s Digital Life
Greek expats in Australia concerned about potential tax changes
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram In a move which is certainly a sign of the times, and shows the Greek economy is still under major pressure, the Greek government has floated the idea of charging additional tax on Greek property income, either from rental or sale, for expats living in Australia. This is despite the fact that the Australian government and the Greek authorities have in place a “double taxation” agreement which should in practice avoid any such issues. If you take a step back and look at the situation, there is no doubt that the Greek economy is under pressure, the Greek government is now in the pocket of the European Union and something needs to be done to claw back lost revenue. However, critics of the Greek government blame the fact that potentially hundreds of millions of Euros in taxes have yet to be collected, many of these debts have been written off and suggest this is the area in which regulatory changes should be made. The Greek community in Australia The 2006 Australian census states that there were 260,000 people of Greek nationality living Australia with 126,000 actually born in Greece. Therefore, it goes without saying that the Greek expat community in Australia is certainly a significant force and already the Australian government has confirmed that it is “monitoring the situation” with regards to potential issues of double taxation. The fear is that the Greek government is to effectively deem all people from Greece as “living in Greece” for taxation purposes although they have stated point-blank that they will not tax income earned in Australia. For some reason the Greek expat community does not trust or believe what it is been told at the moment and there is growing anxiety amongst this expat community. There is a potential “get out clause” because the Greek government has suggested that the implementation of the recently confirmed property tax could effectively be delayed or cancelled if the Greek economy improves. How likely is this under the significant financial pressure at the moment? The future of Greece It is no surprise to learn that there is a significant Greek expat community in Australia especially when you bear in mind the ongoing economic difficulties. The figure of 260,000 expats gleaned from the consensus of 2006 is likely to be significantly higher especially when you bear in mind recent events. It will be interesting to see how the Australian government supports the Greek expat community because in effect by allowing them to stay in Australia they are under the stewardship of the Australian government. Quote from AustraliaForum.com: “The Greek government has this week confirmed it is looking at introducing a property tax for Greek expats in Australia, and other areas of the world, earning rental income and sales income on properly held in Greece.” The short to medium-term outlook for the Greek economy is not good, the Greek government is effectively at the beck and call of the European Union and many experts predict significant budget problems for many years to come. Against this backdrop, it is difficult to see the so-called “get out clause” brought up by the Greek authorities ever being activated. To all intents and purposes, this is something of a red herring to potentially take the edge off the proposed property tax. Conclusion While the Greek government has been talking about austerity measures and increased taxation in the same breath, looking towards those who have moved overseas, it is difficult to see how the Greek government can justify pushing this too far. Income on rental property and property sales in Greece has been suggested although so far the legislation has been held back for further discussions. Concerns about potential double taxation problems on income earned in Australia seems to be well wide of the mark but when you bear in mind the precarious position of the Greek government perhaps anything can happen? It will be interesting to see how far the Australian government is prepared to go to protect the assets and the wealth of Greek expats living under their stewardship. This could well be a major test of the rights of expats when moving to Australia and whether indeed the federal government will look to protect these? * This article was first published on www.australianforum.com
Twitter va inclure de la publicité dans ses applications mobiles
Twitter va inclure de la publicité dans ses applications mobilesLe réseau de micro-blogging cherche désormais à accroître sa rentabilité. Cela passera prochainement par l’ajout de tweets publicitaires dans les flux de lecture des abonnés.Twitter va en 2012 développer son modèle économique basé quasi-uniquement sur la publicité. Les utilisateurs des applications mobiles du réseau social, quelle que soit la plateforme, vont avoir la surprise, dans les prochaines semaines, de découvrir dans leur fil d’actualité des tweets sponsorisés, désormais imposés à tous.À lire aussiDengue : symptômes, traitement, prévention, où en est-on ?”Les tweets sponsorisés apparaissent dans votre timeline comme n’importe quel tweet standard” explique Twitter, qui précise aussi que ces derniers n’apparaîtront que si ceux-ci sont pertinents. En clair, de la publicité ciblée, facile à produire pour un réseau social qui au fur et à mesure des publications connaît bien les goûts de ses abonnés.L’année dernière, Twitter avait amassé avec la publicité 139,5 millions de dollars (105 millions d’euros), et il en espère précisément 259,9 millions (195 millions d’euros) cette année selon le site All Things D. Toutes les applications sont donc concernées, ainsi que le client web. Un seul client n’est pas encore concerné par cette nouvelle politique commerciale, c’est celui réservé à l’iPad, mais il suffira d’une simple mise à jour pour le conformer aux autres plateformes. Le 1 mars 2012 à 11:15 • Maxime Lambert
Zinio Discounts Entire Newsstand With Groupon
Digital magazine and newsstand provider Zinio is cashing in on the discount phenomenon with a new collaborative project with Groupon.”We’ve been looking at creative, innovative and interesting new ways to educate the world about Zinio and what its opportunities are,” says Jeanniey Mullen, global executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Zinio. “Groupon, among a number of those deal sites, have come into our radar and we’ve been actually considering working with one of these types of companies as a test for quite a while. We decided to go ahead and kick it off and the first city test just went live [Thursday].”These initial tests give Groupon users access to $35 worth of any magazine in the newsstand for just $15. Users could get a year’s subscription to one publication, which could run as low as $14.99, and then buy several single copies of other titles for just $4.99, or another subscription. The deal ran in Anchorage, Alaska, Baltimore, MA and is live in Chattanooga, TN for the next four days.”Groupon helped us make sure that the way we positioned the brand resonated with their fans and buyers,” she says. “They work with you to craft the language to make sure that it’s as successful as possible. We were happy to have that because the Groupon audience is a group of people who love deals and they’re really interested in immediacy and something of value so, quite frankly, we weren’t sure if would be a huge success or a terrible disaster or somewhere in between.” There are over 4,300 titles in the digital newsstand offered by Zinio and the deals give individuals the ability to try any title with minimal risk.”We were excited about this because it allows people to take their choice of our entire newsstand-we weren’t just picking a title and saying this Groupon is between Zinio and Elle or Zinio and Popular Mechanics-we said try our entire newsstand whether you want to read content you love or content you’ve never heard of,” Mullen says.Through working with Groupon, Zinio has access to a dashboard that provides insight on demographics and age. While it is still too early to tell whether this partnership will pay off for the newsstand, Zinio sees the demographic being reached matches what Mullen calls the company’s “best buyers.”According to Mullen the Baltimore discount ran in three different ways, with 350 Groupon users taking advantage of the deal. The Anchorage deal generated 143 buyers, the Chattanooga deal is still available.”I’m hoping that it sells so well that it takes down the site and we can’t beat off the traffic,” jokes Mullen. “I’m dying to see how it ends.”
Gazipur factory fire under control
Fire at Kader Compact Spinning Limited in Konabari BSCIC industrial area of Gazipur. Photo: Masud RanaThe fire that broke out in a spinning mill in Konabari BSCIC industrial area of Gazipur early Monday has been brought under control.Ten units of fire fighters managed to douse the flames around 8:00am, said Gazipur Fire Service and Civil Defence deputy assistant director Md Akhtaruzzaman.No one was reported to be hurt in the incident so far, said witnesses.Kaliakair fire service station officer Kabirul Alam said the factory, Kader Compact Spinning Limited, caught fire around 2:00am and soon engulfed the factory.The two-storey tin shed factory is located at Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation area in Konabari.The reason of the fire could not be known immediately.
Myanmar president promises to amend constitution
Newly sworn in Myanmar President Win Myint (C), State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi (L) and First Lady Cho Cho (4th L) pose for a picture after an oath taking ceremony in the parliament in Naypyidaw on March 30, 2018. Photo : AFPMyanmar’s new president promised to amend the country’s army-written constitution in an inaugural speech Friday, challenging a charter that bans Aung San Suu Kyi from top office and gives the military major powers.Win Myint, a 66-year-old former political prisoner and staunch ally of Suu Kyi, was elected president on Wednesday after his predecessor suddenly resigned.Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate who championed Myanmar’s emergence from junta rule by sweeping 2015 elections, is constitutionally barred from the presidency because she was married to a foreigner.To circumvent that snag, her party created a new position for her called state counsellor — allowing Suu Kyi to rule “above” the president.That makes it vital for her to have a reliable proxy in office, especially as she manages the delicate power-sharing arrangement with the military, which ruled the country for almost half a century and remains enormously influential.In his first address to parliament, the famously straight-talking Win Myint said he would focus on the rule of law, national reconciliation and “amending the constitution to build a democratic federal union”.The three issues are touchstones of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party.But talk of amendments to Myanmar’s 2008 constitution is likely to rise heckles among Myanmar’s still-powerful generals.The army has ceded some power to the civilian administration, but retains 25 percent of parliamentary seats and total control of security affairs under the charter.Win Myint also said he would work to “protect human rights”, a thorny subject in a country accused of ethnic cleansing by the UN against its Rohingya Muslim population.A violent military crackdown has forced some 700,000 Rohingya — a long-persecuted stateless minority — over the border into Bangladesh since August.The army insists the campaign was a legitimate response to Rohingya militant attacks against border-guard police posts.Win Myint is part of Suu Kyi’s inner circle — the pair campaigned together during the 1988 democracy protests against the then-junta, a movement that was violently suppressed.For his role Win Myint, alongside many others, was taken political prisoner.Suu Kyi is still widely regarded as a pro-democracy heroine in Myanmar even though her reputation lies in tatters globally for failing to speak up on behalf of the country’s Rohingya Muslims.
Over 1000 dead in DR Congo Ebola epidemic
Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) attends a news conference on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on 3 May 2019. ReutersMore than 1,000 people have now died of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said, as aid workers warned that the highly contagious virus combined with insecurity in the restive region was creating a “deeply worrying situation”.The current outbreak is the second deadliest on record, after an epidemic killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa in 2014-2016.Efforts to roll back the outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever have been hampered by fighting but also by resistance within communities to preventative measures, care facilities and safe burials.”In total, there have been 1,008 deaths (942 confirmed and 66 probable),” the health ministry said in a daily update late Friday.The central African country declared a 10th outbreak of Ebola in 40 years last August centred in the city of Beni in North Kivu province before the virus spread into the neighbouring Ituri region.The World Health Organisation had initially voiced hope it would be able to contain the outbreak, thanks in part to a new vaccine.But in recent weeks senior WHO officials have conceded that insecurity, scarce financial resources and local politicians turning people against health workers had seriously undermined the containment effort.”We are dealing with a difficult and volatile situation,” Michael Ryan, the executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme, told reporters in Geneva on Friday.”We are anticipating a scenario of continued, intense transmission,” he added.The long-standing presence of various rebel groups in Ituri and North Kivu has made it difficult for health workers to access those who might have come into contact with Ebola, a figure that currently stands at 12,000 people.But beyond the militias, communities in the aftermath of DRC’s December elections “are being manipulated” against cooperating with Ebola responders, Ryan said.”Communities… need to be assured that all parties are supporting the public health response and that Ebola should not become further politicised in the process,” he added.Ryan said the UN health agency currently has enough vaccine stocks to meet its needs but doses may run short.”We don’t necessarily know which way this outbreak is going,” he said.More than 110,000 people have been vaccinated since the outbreak began. Neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda have also been vaccinating health workers.’Deeply worrying’Humanitarian groups meanwhile warned Friday of health risks faced by tens of thousands of people uprooted by the resurgence of violence in the east of the country.Among them, some 7,000 displaced people are housed in a primary school where the only water source is a nearby river and there are not enough toilets, 18 non-governmental organisations said in a statement.In such conditions, the “risk of disease spread is high”, they added.”This is a deeply worrying situation. These people fear going back to their homes and are being forced to live in cramped, unsanitary conditions in an area where Ebola remains a significant threat,” said Tamba Emmanuel Danmbi-saa from Oxfam, one of the groups that signed the document.”These people urgently need food and adequate sanitation facilities as well as clean water and health services.”The groups said violence in the region, with rival rebel groups competing for resources and power, made it very difficult for humanitarian aid to reach those who need it, with some 60,000 people displaced in April alone.Many of them, added the NGOs, find themselves trapped between the Ugandan border to the east, a region in their own country plagued by violence, and another nearby that is riddled with Ebola.”As a result, some displaced people are being left with little choice but to return to the villages they fled, where they are at risk of further attacks.”Others are avoiding official border points and choosing to cross illegally through the forests along the border or by boat across Lake Albert. This also increases the risk of Ebola being spread, since people are not being screened as they would be at the official border crossings.”In the conflict-ridden country as a whole, more than 13 million people need humanitarian aid, the NGOs said.More than five million have had to flee their homes, and Uganda is already home to more than 1.2 million refugees.
Ciera Brookins Memorialized at an Emotional Service
Ciera Brookins, the late daughter of Edgar Brookins, the AFRO’s Washington D.C. office general manager, was remembered by her family and friends in a passionate funeral service with plenty of tears of joy and sadness.Chaplain (LTC) Grace Hollis, pastor of the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Gospel Service delivers the eulogy at the funeral of Ciera Brookins as her parents, family members and friends mourn her passing. (Photo by Rob Roberts)Ciera Nicole Brookins, daughter of Evelyn Collier and Edgar A. Brookins Jr., died from a Lupus-related illness on Dec. 19 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore. The memorial service took place on Dec. 28 at the Fort Myers Memorial Chapel in Fort Myers, Va.Minister Lougenia Carnell told the 65-member audience not to be sad. “We’re not here for a funeral,” Carnell said. “We are here to celebrate the homegoing of Ciera Brookins. This is a celebration of life.”Ciera was born on Oct. 30, 1991 in Cheverly, Md. She attended Prince George’s County public schools, graduating from Largo High School and was a junior at Morgan State University studying to be a social worker.She was a devoted member of the Sunday school, the usher ministry, and church at the Gospel Service, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. William Douglas served as Ciera’s Sunday school teacher and talked about her faithfulness to the church.“There were times when we had Sunday school and there were only four people attending,” Douglas said. “That afforded for some time for some real down-to-earth discussions. Any parent would be proud to have an honest child with a special smile and a loving spirit who seeks a deeper understanding of God’s Word.”Three of Ciera’s closest friends, Eric Hatton, Jamila Kamara, and Bria Stewart, talked about her and, at times, while one was speaking, another was crying softly and the other holding back tears.“Ciera was my best friend, my partner in crime, and my love, “Hatton said. “I want to thank Mrs. C and Mr. Brookins for raising an amazing person.Lt. Col. Dexter Brookins, Ciera’s older brother, spoke about his relationship with her. He said that when she was having trouble in school, he would meet with her school counselors and “stalk her in the hallways to make sure that she was going to class.”“We put her through some tough love,” Dexter Brookins said. “After that, she paid attention in class and acted responsibly.”Dexter Brookins spoke highly of his sister, saying, “She came, she saw and she conquered. I salute you.”Remarks delivered by Ciera’s father, Edgar Brookins, on behalf of himself and Collier, were the emotional high point of the service. Edgar Brookins, known by friends as an even-tempered, no-nonsense individual, talked about his daughter emotionally. “I am here to celebrate my baby,” he said with a whimper. Edgar Brookins recalled that Ciera would call his office and ask “Dad, what’s up?”“I would try to explain to Ciera that I was working to make the family money,” he said to some snickers in the audience. “I remember times when she would tell me about something that happened in her life but she only told me tidbits. I would learn the full story from her mother because she would tell her mother everything.”During his remarks, Edgar Brookins sang stanzas of the Jackson 5’s “Never Can Say Goodbye” and Michael Jackson’s “Gone too Soon.”Renee Allen, a friend of the Brookins family, presided over the ceremony. She read acknowledgements from the White House Office of Engagement, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker III, Morgan State University, Jackson State University and its alumni association, Omega Psi Phi, and the AFRO.Lt. Col. Grace Hollins serves as the pastor of the Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall Gospel Service and delivered Ciera’s eulogy, noting the appropriateness of the service being held at the Memorial Chapel. “This was the place where Ciera worshipped the Lord and served the Lord,” Hollins said. “She was active in the youth ministry, Sunday school, and she was a champion for children. She was a sweet, kind, devoted daughter, sister, and friend.”Brookins body is set to be cremated and placed in a D.C. mausoleum during a ceremony for close family and friends.
Netflix Reveals First Look Voice Cast of The Dark Crystal Series
What to Stream on Netflix This Weekend11 Other Old-School Nick Shows That Should Get Netflix Movies Stay on target The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a new fantasy animated series, is coming to Netflix next year.On Monday, Netflix announced The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance in a press release and gave fans a first look at the series’ photos and cast. Netflix released photos of the three main Gelfling characters: Rian, Brea, and Deet. The show’s voice cast includes Taron Egerton (Kingsman), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch), Nathalie Emmanuel (Game of Thrones), and other notable actors.Brea in ‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ (Photo Credit: Kevin Baker/Netflix)Based on The Dark Crystal, Jim Henson’s 1982 feature film, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is set many years before the events in Henson’s ’80s flick. In The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, three young Gelfling discover a dark secret behind the power of the Skeksis and start a rebellion against the evil empire. The 10-episode series will highlight their fight to save the world of Thra.Deet in ‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ (Photo Credit: Kevin Baker/Netflix)The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance cast includes Egerton (Rian), Taylor-Joy (Brea), and Emmanuel (Deet) as the leading trio, while other Gelfling characters will be voiced by Helena Bonham-Carter (The King’s Speech), Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones), and Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery).For more updates on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, visit the series’ Netflix page here.More on Geek.com:Here’s Everything Coming to Netflix in January 2019Netflix Tests ‘Devaluing’ Instant-Replay FeatureNetflix Reveals 2018’s Most-Binged Movies and TV Shows
How to keep skin radiant in winter
In the winter season, safeguard yourself against dry and dehydrated skin. Give yourself oil massages, use cream-based products and apply cold cream before sleeping, says an expert.Here are some tips:* Turn to cream-based products early: If winter is approaching, it’s time to turn to skincare products that have cream-based thick moisturizers. So, your light water-based moisturizer will pave way for a heavy and thick cream. Switch over to a milder facewash and use a sunscreen that has moisturiser. While removing make-up too, use moisturizing cleansers and toners. Also Read – Add new books to your shelf* Give yourself oil massages: Just when you wake up in the morning, give yourself 15 minutes to apply warm oil all over the body, including on the face and the scalp. Leave it for an hour as you finish your morning chores. Then take a bath as usual and proceed for the day. This will go a long way in keeping your skin healthy, not just for the winter, but for a long time.*Exfoliate and steam: As we apply more creams, more oil and more products to stave off the dehydrating winter chill, the skin pores sometimes get blocked. For this purpose, exfoliating skin once or twice every ten days is recommended. Use a gentle scrub in circular motions on the skin to remove dead cells and clean up the skin. Once a month, also take recourse to steaming therapy. This will help soften the skin, open pores, and remove white heads and acne. Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsive* Nourishing skin procedures: Visit a dermatologist just before the onset of winters and seek a good solution for skin dryness. Deep moisturizing hydra facials once a month can be of much help in treating, even preventing excessive dryness. * Drink water: The icy cold weather often discourages us from drinking sufficient water and we tend to increase our skin dehydration due to this reason. Keep heated water in a thermostat. But keep drinking water to keep skin hydrated and prevent lips from cracking. * Feet care: Cracked heels, irritated soles, and itchy and swollen feet can be a major irritant, but feet are often at the lowest end of our priority. Apply cold cream to feet every night before going to bed. Use an exfoliating agent to remove jagged and hard skin from the heels once every fortnight. It is extremely important to wear warm, preferably woollen socks in winters.* Diet is important too: It is important to take a good intake of vitamin and minerals rich foods during winters to boost immunity and health. Consume a lot of fruits and vegetables, and take diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids like fish to boost skin health and nourishment.
End Game Germany wins 2014 World Cup
Facebook Comments Related posts:In Argentina and Germany, World Cup Final features soccer royalty In Costa Rica, pride for La Sele’s historic World Cup play Snapshots from the Web of Costa Rica’s historic World Cup win VIDEO: Even in defeat, Costa Rica celebrates
Court acquits dogs former owner in firstofitskind trial in Costa Rica
Champion’s case challenged a relatively new law in Costa Rica that sanctions animal abuse; owners who mistreat animals could be subject to fines or prison time.When Champion was taken from his former owner, he was malnourished, covered in fleas, and had a deep wound on his neck caused by a rope that had been used as a leash. After 20 days of veterinary care, the puppy began to recover.In court, he interacted with visitors and remained well-behaved as the trial attracted local and international attention.To report suspected cases of animal abuse in Costa Rica, contact the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) at +506 2587-1600. A criminal complaint, or denuncia, can be submitted using the form available online here. Facebook Comments Related posts:Costa Rican dog attends trial as a victim of animal abuse Ticos love their dogs but could be better owners, study finds Signature collection for animal welfare bill referendum set for July President Solís signs new Animal Welfare Law The Prosecutor’s Office said that while it had videos and photos that demonstrated Champion had been abused, there was insufficient evidence to convict the defendant after her brother did not appear to testify. In a press conference aired by news channel Repretel, the judge presiding over the case, Mario Rodríguez, recognized deficiencies in the current laws.“When I first saw the photos — pardon me for my language — I almost vomited,” he said. A dog called Campeon attends the trial of his previous owner, who is charged with animal abuse in Atenas, Costa Rica, on July 22, 2019. Photo by Ezequiel BECERRA / AFP
Earlier this week, we told you about Champion, the two-year-old dog that was present in the courtroom while his former owner was tried for animal abuse.Friday, an Atenas court acquitted the woman accused of mistreating Champion, according to the daily La Nación.
Commentary Let Them Eat… Nothing
in Data, Government, Origination, Servicing January 18, 2013 426 Views Agents & Brokers Attorneys & Title Companies Barack Obama Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Debt Crisis FHFA Home Values Investors Lenders & Servicers Mark Lieberman National Association of Realtors Processing Service Providers Treasury Department Underwriting Standards 2013-01-18 Mark Lieberman Commentary: Let Them Eat… Nothing
The disagreement over the nation’s borrowing limit took a back seat to gun control and perhaps lost some urgency when House Republicans floated the idea of a temporary extension, which would do what Washington seems to be famous for–kicking the can down the road. But the controversy and its impact on the nation’s financial credibility demands a solution that will last for more than just a few months.[IMAGE]Now that House Republicans have agreed to a tactical vote on the so-called debt ceiling in the comingweek, it will again be center stage (translation: the lead story or close on the evening news). President Obama has vowed to not negotiate over the debt ceiling, even in the face of rabid government illiterates (are they “”Capitol Hilliterates?””) who would be content to let the government shut down rather than agree to increase the nation’s borrowing limit if the President doesn’t give in to their demands for spending cuts.They just don’t get it and perhaps shutting the government will drive the point home for those who don’t remember the chaos when then Speaker Newt Gingrich let the government close down 20 years ago.The naysayers continue to insist the nation has a “”spending”” problem, which they are intent on solving, ignoring that we have not a spending (or even a revenue) problem but a jobs problem. Their approach is akin to getting your car washed because your kitchen is dirty. The fight over the debt ceiling is really a debate over the role of government. While the GOP may feel confident about a debate after President Obama’s first performance during the campaign, this is a debate the Republicans are gifting to the President if they let the government shut down. If Republicans “”succeed””–if that’s the right word–in shuttering the government to make their point, they will make quite a different point: a dramatic reminder of all that government does and why we need it. The last time I checked, we don’t inspect our own foods or safety test our own drugs; we don’t maintain our own highways or do the thousands of other little things government does–or governments do–every day to make life livable. This is, as Obama has suggested in other circumstances, a “”teachable moment”” and perhaps time for the President to re-establish himself as the educator-in-chief by holding firm on the debt ceiling which is, simply a mechanism to allow the government to pay the bills it has already incurred. For Obama to agree to this round of spending cuts or indeed any spending cuts now would undermine the slow but steady improvement in jobs and the economy. To be sure, government doesn’t have to be the employer of last resort, but virtually every dollar government spends means a job for someone. Maintaining debt stability allows that spending and job creation continue.That the United States has the most stable debt in the world was demonstrated again this week when the Treasury reported foreign residents and governments accumulated a net $61.5 billion in long-term U.S. securities in November, the most since August. According to the report, net purchases of U.S. Treasury notes and bonds totaled $26.4 billion, more than double the $12.0 billion purchased in October. Through November, private foreign investors accumulated a net $267.3 billion in long-term US securities in 2012, thanks in part to the Eurozone debt crisis and the relative strength of the US economy, and strength of the US dollar. ***Just a week after unveiling new rules for mortgage originations, the “”Consumer Financial Protection Bureau””:http://www.consumerfinance.gov/ stepped up its game by turning to the other end the mortgage business, “”collecting on loans””:https://themreport.com/articles/cfpb-releases-mortgage-servicing-guidelines-2013-01-17. When lenders make loans they look to how the loans will be repaid. CFPB has perhaps not taken a deep enough look at that aspect of the business.To be sure, the “”new origination standards””:https://themreport.com/articles/cfpb-releases-qualified-mortgage-criteria-establishes-legal-protections-2013-01-10 attempt to ensure loans are made only to borrowers who can afford them without having to resort to a diet of corn flakes or pasta. That’s a positive objective, but ignores a simple truth that “”life happens”” and sometimes alternative means of repayment become necessary.One of the significant oversights in the origination rules was the absence of down payment standards which serve to protect lenders. (By the way, protecting lenders also works to be benefit borrowers by reducing the overall cost of credit if lenders can reduce their concerns, i.e. interest rates, because they can be more confident of repayment). More than 30 years ago a chief credit officer at Fannie Mae looked at his company’s defaults from a variety of angles and found one persistent truth: borrowers who had put down at least $35,000 (this _was_ a long time ago), regardless of the value of the property or size of the loan, were less likely to default than those who hadn’t.CFPB may have compounded the oversight with some of its new default servicing requirements. Some make complete sense, especially those that bring the borrower into the process sooner. One of the axioms though of default servicing is that “”first loss is best loss.”” Lenders/default servicers don’t want the process to drag on. Setting a 120-day floor before the lender can take steps toward foreclosure does give the borrower more time to cure the delinquency, but it also unnecessarily ties the lender’s hands. Bringing the borrower lender together after 90 days would start the process sooner–when the delinquent amount is, by definition, 25 percent lower, perhaps more manageable.That the new rules don’t kick in for a year–much like the origination rules–will give both lenders and groups that represent borrowers an opportunity to think through the consequences. CFPB should build into any of its new rules a mandatory look back, six, nine or 12 months after a new rule takes effect, to determine if the rule(s) accomplished their objectives and where the speed bumps were.***Economic data as they related to housing are usually concentrated in the last couple of weeks of the month. Next week’s report lineup includes data on existing home sales (Tuesday) and new home sales (Friday) surrounding the “”Federal Housing Finance Agency””:http://www.fhfa.gov/ report Wednesday on home values for November. Existing-home sales hit a “”three-year high in November””:http://www.dsnews.com/articles/existing-home-sales-jump-to-3-year-high-2012-12-20 (the most recent report) improving for the fourth time in five months. Coming into December 2011, existing-home sales had increased in three of the previous four months, but slipped at the end of the year. Economists don’t expect a similar reversal this year, and a stronger labor market would support that view.New home sales have also improved for four of the last five months, but that’s where the comparison ends. The government’s “”new home sales report””:http://www.dsnews.com/articles/nov-new-home-sales-at-31-month-high-2012-12-27 tracks contracts while the “”National Association of Realtors'””:http://www.realtor.org/ sales report is built on closings. As such, the new home sales report is a timelier economic indicator. Market consensus is new home sales will show another increase for December._Hear Mark Lieberman on P.O.T.U.S.–Sirius 124–every Friday at 6:40 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. Eastern time._ Share
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