Tigray crisis: Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed vows to continue military offensive
Abiy Ahmed’s pledge to carry on fighting in Tigray comes despite international calls for restraint.- Advertisement –
Moment iPhone 12 Mounts with MagSafe securely stabilize your phone everywhere » Gadget Flow
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If you’re tired of balancing your phone on a book while you watch videos or having to ask a passenger to hold your device for directions, there’s something for you from the selection of Moment iPhone 12 Mounts with MagSafe. With a range of mounts available, you can attach your phone to your car’s vent, tripods or handles, walls, and a microphone or light. In fact, this versatility is great for photography sessions, working, using in the car, or watching videos. All mounts use magnets for a secure and safe attachment and feature padded contract points to keep your phone safe. If you love photography, the Tripod Mounts allow you to capture landscape and portrait shots with ease. And you don’t need a phone clamp. Finally, the Moment Phone Mounts are compatible with MagSafe cases and accessories.
Neineiwu Twist-Knot Top Kicks Casual Fashion up a Major Notch
Get the Neineiwu Loose Long-Sleeve Twist Knot Top starting at just $17 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, October 27, 2020, but are subject to change.We haven’t even told you the best part yet. This Neieneiwu top is currently available in 26 different colors and patterns! There’s a nice selection of solids ranging from dark to light, but if you were looking for shades of camo, floral, leopard and even zebra, then you’ve found just the piece to make your dreams come true.While some people tend to confuse “casual” with “lazy” or “boring,” this top proves that it doesn’t have to be either of those things. It can be fun, exciting and inspiring too — with no actual extra effort from you. The power of fashion is so real, and you’re witnessing it! See it!Get the Neineiwu Loose Long-Sleeve Twist Knot Top starting at just $17 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, October 27, 2020, but are subject to change.Not your style? Shop more from Neineiwu here and see more tops, tees and blouses here! Don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!Check out more of our picks and deals here!This post is brought to you by Us Weekly’s Shop With Us team. The Shop With Us team aims to highlight products and services our readers might find interesting and useful, such as face masks, self tanners, Lululemon-style leggings and all the best gifts for everyone in your life. Product and service selection, however, is in no way intended to constitute an endorsement by either Us Weekly or of any celebrity mentioned in the post.The Shop With Us team may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. In addition, Us Weekly receives compensation from the manufacturer of the products we write about when you click on a link and then purchase the product featured in an article. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product or service is featured or recommended. Shop With Us operates independently from advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback at ShopWithUs@usmagazine.com. Happy shopping! This top immediately stands out among other long-sleeve tees. First, it has a waffle-knit texture. Automatic points in both visual appeal and comfy feels. Second, that twist we mentioned. It’s a literal one! There is an integrated twist knot at the front of the hem gathering the fabric and tucking it into itself. This means you can skip the complications and annoyances of tucking your top into your pants or skirt — and you don’t have to worry about the knot ever coming undone. It’s permanent!This top is still super soft and super cozy, with a relaxed, roomy fit, and it’s just as easy to slip on as any other plain tee. But look how much of a difference the texture and twist knot make! We love that the hem is long enough to wear with leggings too for when we really want to keep things comfy.
AmazonSee it!- Advertisement – The issue is, if you’re not careful, your casual fashion can leave you looking like a cartoon character wearing the same exact outfit every single day. Maybe the first day it was cute, but the excitement is going to fade fast if you never change it up. That doesn’t mean losing any comfort or ease though. It just means that the next time you reach for jeans and a tee, why not try a tee with a twist?
AmazonSee it!Get the Neineiwu Loose Long-Sleeve Twist Knot Top starting at just $17 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, October 27, 2020, but are subject to change.- Advertisement – Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services.We like to dress up from time to time, but most of the time, we really love to keep things casual. We opt for quick, easy outfits that take minimal effort to put on and can be left to their own devices during the day. We don’t want to be readjusting, retying, retucking all day long.- Advertisement – – Advertisement –
OnePlus Nord SE With 65W Fast Charging, AMOLED Display Tipped to Launch Early Next Year
OnePlus Nord SE is said to be the next addition to the OnePlus Nord lineup that includes the OnePlus Nord, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G, and the OnePlus Nord N100. A report claims that the OnePlus is working on another budget-friendly smartphone in the Nord series that will come with 65W fast charging — a feature only present in the more expensive OnePlus 8T right now. The OnePlus Nord SE is expected to be unveiled early next year. As of now, OnePlus has not shared any information on the rumoured OnePlus Nord SE.A report by Android Central, citing insider sources, claims that OnePlus Nord SE will be the next phone in the Nord series. It will be a budget-friendly smartphone, but with some flagship features. The report states that it will come with a 4,500mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging. OnePlus introduced Warp Charge 65 with its OnePlus 8T which, though cheaper than the OnePlus 8 Pro, is still a relatively expensive phone. The OnePlus 8 lineup starts with the OnePlus 8 base variant priced at Rs 39,999 in India.- Advertisement – Further, the report adds that the OnePlus Nord SE will feature an AMOLED display like the OnePlus Nord. The rumoured phone is codenamed ‘Ebba’ and could release in the first quarter of 2021. It may arrive soon after the OnePlus 9 series, which is expected to be launched earlier than the company’s typical mid-March flagship cycle. Additionally, it is said that the OnePlus Nord SE will be sold in India and Europe only.It should be noted that OnePlus has not shared any information about this rumoured OnePlus Nord SE so this piece of information is a speculation at this stage.OnePlus 9 is said to be the next flagship from the company, and, recently, it was tipped that there will be three different models and two of them will be called OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. The third could be called OnePlus 9T or OnePlus 9 Ultra. The OnePlus 9 series is expected to be powered by the yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon 875 SoC.- Advertisement – – Advertisement –
Which is the best TV under Rs. 25,000? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.
Doctors Are Calling It Quits
Doctors are also stressed by the never-ending need to keep safe. “There is a hunker-down mentality now,” Dr. Bailey said. She is concerned that some doctors will develop PTSD from the chronic stress of caring for patients during the pandemic.Even those who are not responsible for running their own practices are leaving. Courtney Barry, 40, a family nurse practitioner at a rural health clinic in Soledad, Calif., watched the cases of coronavirus finally ebb in her area, only to see wildfires break out. Many of her patients are farmworkers and work outside, and they became ill from the smoke. One doctor, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are confidential, said she and her partner had already been talking with the nearby hospital nearby about buying their pediatric practice before the pandemic arrived in the United States.Although federal aid has helped, patient visits are still 15 percent below normal, she said, and they are continually worried about making payroll and having enough doctors and staff to see patients. As the number of virus cases balloons in the Midwest, her employees must deal with increasingly agitated parents.- Advertisement – – Advertisement –
“They’re yelling and cussing at my staff,” she said. Working for a telemedicine firm might be an alternative, she added. “It’s a hard job to begin with, to own your own business,” she said.The coronavirus crisis has amplified problems that doctors were already facing, whether they own their practice or are employed. “A lot of physicians were hanging on by a thread from burnout before the pandemic even started,” said Dr. Susan R. Bailey, the president of the American Medical Association.In particular, smaller practices continue to have difficulty finding sufficient personal protective equipment, like gloves and masks. “The big hospitals and health care systems have pretty well-established systems of P.P.E.,” she said, but smaller outfits might not have a reliable source. “I was literally on eBay looking for masks,” she said. The cost of these supplies has also become a significant financial issue for some practices.- Advertisement –
Shepherd Bushiri: South Africa issues arrest warrant for fugitive preacher
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Efficacy of flu shots in children under 2 questioned
Feb 25, 2005 (CIDRAP News) – An analysis of 24 studies yielded no clear evidence that influenza vaccines prevent flu in children younger than 2 years old, though they work reasonably well in older children, according to a new report in The Lancet.”Immunization of very young children is not lent support by our findings,” says the report by T. Jefferson of Cochrane Vaccines Field in Alessandria, Italy, and colleagues from there and the University of Oxford in England.The report comes less than a year after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that children 6 to 23 months old routinely receive flu shots on grounds that they have an increased risk of flu and its complications.The CDC says the Lancet analysis left out some important studies showing that flu shots are beneficial for young children. The agency will continue to recommend flu shots for 6- to 23-month-olds, a spokeswoman said.Jefferson and colleagues combed the worldwide literature up to June 2004 and found 15 randomized controlled trials, eight cohort studies, and one case-control study comparing the effects of flu immunization with placebo or no immunization in children. The researchers looked at the vaccines’ efficacy, defined as prevention of laboratory-confirmed flu; effectiveness in preventing flu-like illness; and effectiveness in reducing hospitalizations, complications, school absences, and secondary transmission.The authors did separate analyses of studies dealing with live attenuated flu vaccines, which are not used in small children, and those involving inactivated vaccines. The analysis did not include studies assessing children’s immune-system responses to vaccines (serologic studies).In children under age 2, vaccination yielded 24% efficacy against flu, which was not significantly better than placebo, but this finding was based on one study involving about 800 children, the report says. No data were available on the effectiveness of vaccination for preventing flu-like illness in the under-2 group.Among children 2 years and older, live attenuated vaccines were 79% efficacious in preventing flu, while inactivated vaccines were 65% efficacious, according to the analysis. The effectiveness of vaccines against flu-like illness was much lower: 38% for live vaccines, 28% for inactivated vaccines.”Differences between efficacy and effectiveness of vaccines are not surprising because influenza vaccines are specifically targeted at influenza viruses and are not designed to prevent other causes of influenza-like illness,” the report states.The researchers found that immunization reduced long school absences, but they saw little evidence that it reduced hospital admissions and stays, secondary cases, lower-respiratory-tract disease, or acute otitis media.”Although a growing body of evidence shows the effect of influenza on admissions and deaths of children, we recorded no convincing evidence that vaccines can reduce mortality, admissions, serious complications, and community transmission of influenza,” the article concludes.Kristine Sheedy, a spokeswoman for the CDC’s National Immunization Program in Atlanta, told CIDRAP News that the analysis left out some important evidence on the effects of flu immunization in small children.The authors “included many important studies, but they did exclude other important studies,” she said. She mentioned a CDC study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report in August 2004 and a 2001 study by K. M. Neuzil and colleagues, published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.A careful review of the Lancet report itself as well as the excluded studies “indicates that influenza vaccination is effective in this population” (6- to 23-month-olds), Sheedy said.She added that serologic studies of small children have shown a strong immune response to flu vaccine. Also, additional studies soon to be reported by the CDC will provide more support for the effectiveness of flu immunization in preventing hospitalization and outpatient visits in children, she said.”I hope people will keep in mind the burden of disease in children,” Sheedy said. “When you have a safe and effective vaccine for influenza, why wouldn’t you want to protect the children at greatest risk?”Jefferson T, Smith S, Demicheli V, et al. Assessment of the efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines in healthy children: systematic review. Lancet 2005;365(Feb 26):773-80 [Abstract]See also:Neuzil KM, Dupont WD, Wright PF, et al. Efficacy of inactivated and cold-adapted vaccines against influenza A infection, 1985 to 1990: the pediatric experience. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2001;20(8):733-40 [Abstract]CDC. Assessment of the effectiveness of the 2003-04 influenza vaccine among children and adults—Colorado, 2003. MMWR 2004 Aug 13;53(31):707-10 [Full text]
Pandemic planning puts ethics in spotlight
May 25, 2006 (CIDRAP News) – When vaccine supplies are limited, should children, young adults, or seniors move to the front of the line for shots? Is it appropriate to remove one person from a ventilator to put somebody else on the machine?Those are samples of the thorny ethical questions pandemic planning raises. People rely on ethical frameworks to answer them. Some experts are encouraging Americans to think aloud about rationing and other problems expected during a flu pandemic, to enhance public awareness and cooperation.Having a public discussion about values is a crucial step in preparedness, said Arthur Caplan, PhD, Emmanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Bioethics, chairman of the Department of Medical Ethics, and director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.”If you want support for decisions, you must get people to understand the underlying rationale, and that’s what ethics is,” Caplan said in a recent interview. “It’s important to have a framework. It’s important to have consistency or to explain expectations. It’s in the interest of getting compliance.”Exploring vaccine priorities offers an example of how to explain the ethics behind a pandemic planning issue. In its pandemic influenza plan issued in November 2005, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made recommendations about which age and occupational groups should have priority for vaccination. Vaccine production and distribution workers, as well as frontline healthcare workers, received top priority, as recommended by the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).Several other groups followed, including people between 6 months and 64 years old with two or more high-risk conditions or prior hospitalization with pneumonia or influenza, pregnant women, household contacts of severely immunocompromised people, household contacts of children 6 months or younger, public health and emergency response workers, and key government leaders. The recommendations are subject to change depending on the epidemiology of a pandemic virus.In making those recommendations, ACIP members quickly focused on minimizing hospitalizations and deaths, said Jon Abramson, MD, ACIP chairman and Pediatrics Department chairman at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. Four ethicists outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) participated closely, Abramson said. At least one proposal that seemed logical to Abramson got “shut down” by the bioethicists, and ACIP followed their advice.”It’s incredibly valuable” to have ethicists’ participation, Abramson said. “If you can’t make your case to the public on ethical principles, you’re in trouble.”Another way to allocate vaccineThe ACIP recommendations were challenged on May 12, when bioethicists writing in Science suggested an alternative. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, head of the Department of Clinical Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health, and Alan Wertheimer, a senior research fellow there, called the NVAC-ACIP guide the “save-the-most-lives” principle.The authors suggested focusing instead on what they called the “life-cycle principle,” based on the idea that each person should have an opportunity to live through all the stages of life. They also suggested refining that principle based on gradations within a life span. This would give priority to people between early adolescence and middle age on the basis of the amount people have “invested” in their lives balanced by the likely time left to live, they wrote in Science. Under that principle, “20-year-olds are valued more than 1-year-olds because the older individuals have more developed interests, hopes, and plans but have not had an opportunity to realize them.”The authors also emphasize public order as a principle that should affect the ranking of flu vaccine recipients. That would emphasize the value of ensuring safety and protecting the availability of life’s necessities.Combining the principles would lead to high priority for vaccinating those involved in bringing vaccines to the public, as well as healthcare workers. It would emphasize vaccinating people aged 13 to 40, who are last in line under the NVAC-ACIP recommendations.Explaining the rationale for federal guidance helps state planners, according to Kathy Harriman, PhD, MPH, RN, supervisor of the Infection Control and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit of the Minnesota Department of Health.If states don’t understand and buy into federal guidelines, Harriman said, myriad localities could have differing standards of care and priorities.”I find it troublesome that states and local governments will make different decisions,” she said. But she added that room for disagreement is the American way, and different localities have different needs and resources.”The decision logic should be the same in each place,” she said. At this point, however, many aspects of pandemic planning principles remain unclear. “How are decisions being made? Who’s making them? Who’s deciding who’s making them?”A member of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), which advises the CDC, said that bioethics is part of the committee’s work, but she described a less-explicit process.”I think the discussions occur, but they’re not named,” said Carol O’Boyle, PhD, RN, an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Minnesota. For instance, in discussing distribution of seasonal flu vaccine in the face of a projected shortage last year, “We did look at the greatest good. We did look at protection of the vulnerable.”Bringing ethics out in the openCaplan said that articulating the ethics underlying federal recommendations could enhance US pandemic planning. He described the two most important roles for ethicists as (1) offering suggestions about the fairest approach when rationing is necessary and (2) explaining what the rules are and why they exist.For example, he said, it’s important to explain to hospital staff members that they have an ethical duty to go to work during a pandemic. In an informal poll, he recently asked medical students whether they would report to work during a pandemic. About 40% said they would not.”I was completely astounded,” Caplan said. “I didn’t think it was going to be that high.” Those informal findings have led him to plan a formal survey for hospital employees to learn more about their feelings on the issue, he added.To date, Caplan gives the federal government low marks for talking about its decision-making process. The federal pandemic plan shifts a great deal of authority to states, which he called “a risk transfer” from the federal government.”It’s not even clear who is supposed to be in charge and to enforce the rules,” Caplan said. He called for town forums, congressional hearings, and high school and college teaching units to discuss rationing and resources. He suggested enlisting the support of popular media representatives such as Oprah Winfrey and CNN TV’s Anderson Cooper to host discussions.”I want it out there,” Caplan said. “It’s nice that there are experts, but ultimately ethics should facilitate democratic discussions.”Caplan is doing his part by leading the Ethics of Vaccines project, an 18-month effort begun December 7, 2005, to understand the vaccine field and propose an ethical framework to guide people in the safe, effective, and ethical use of vaccines. It includes a Web log intended to generate more discussion about ethics and vaccines.CDC tries citizen forums on vaccine issuesA separate effort is under way at the CDC, said Roger Bernier, PhD, MPH, senior advisor for scientific strategy and innovation at the agency. A vaccine expert and epidemiologist, Bernier became convinced a few years ago that some segments of the American public had a “trust problem” on vaccine issues. He developed a public engagement model to elicit public opinion and tested the model for the first time on pandemic influenza. The result was a collaboration among 14 public and private organizations that linked about 300 stakeholders and citizens in four regions and involved citizen forums.The groups reached consensus, Bernier’s report said. Assuring the functioning of society (using a minimum number of vaccine doses) was the first immunization goal, and reducing individual deaths and hospitalizations due to influenza was the very close second. “There was little support for other suggested goals to vaccinate young people first, or to use a lottery system or a first come, first served approach,” the report noted.Different groups bring different perspectives to the analysis of policy issues, or, as Bernier said in an interview, different lenses. Public health experts and advisors have not been explicit in the past about their own perspectives. It is important not to substitute citizens for experts, but when decisions are values-driven, citizens can play an important role in articulating the values.”This project illustrates that the lenses are not always identical, and shows the usefulness of public engagement,” Bernier said.”We need the public for three reasons,” he added. “We need their help, we need their advice, and we need their buy-in. . . . Even if we have the world’s greatest plan, if there’s not compliance, it can’t be implemented.”Putting health threats in contextSteven Miles, MD, a professor in the Center for Bioethics at the University of Minnesota, urged people to take an additional step back and make sure that discussions about pandemic planning are occurring in the appropriate context—by assessing the threat in relation to other and potentially more pressing health threats worldwide.”It’s ethics’ role to basically insist on a structural firewall between the politics of fear-mongering and homeland security, and the science of public health risk assessment,” Miles said. “Within the context of that firewall, we need threat assessments that address bioterrorism threats compared with other health threats, and a way of dealing with both the certainties and the uncertainties.”The threat of pandemic flu, like the threat of an anthrax attack, has been removed from the context of other public health threats, such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and polio, and ought to be reintegrated into that context, Miles said. Right now, gauging the likelihood of a pandemic or anthrax attack occurring within a given period, as well as assessing their health and economic effects, amounts to plucking probabilities out of the air, in his view. In contrast, the threat of MDR-TB is much better understood.”We can get a better sense of where our money has to be allocated,” he said. Although fighting the Marburg fever outbreak in Angola last year got a lot of public attention, the expense of sending a medical team to contain an outbreak that affected only a few hundred people should be considered in the context of the impact of MDR-TB in Angola.”We win the skirmish with Marburg as MDR-TB makes a full scale assault on our health systems,” Miles said.Miles went so far as to assert that bioethics has never been optimally used in settling major healthy policy questions. The field has been used “to issue a benediction on courses of action that have already been decided upon,” he said. “In the context of a genuine moral controversy, where the political balance of power is not set, where the uncertainty is high, the ability to bring in bioethicists to set up a framework of arguments has never been done.”Caplan sounded a more optimistic note.”Ethics is very powerful,” he said. “It’s the glue to prevent anarchy. I’m not saying it’ll work, but it’s the best glue we’ve got.”See also: Science article “Who should get influenza vaccine when not all can?”http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/312/5775/854HHS pandemic vaccine priority groupshttp://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/pdf/AppD.pdfEthics of Vaccines project: http://www.vaccineethics.org/University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics’ publication “Stand on Guard for Thee: Ethical Considerations in Preparedness Planning for Pandemic Influenza”http://www.jointcentreforbioethics.ca/people/documents/upshur_stand_guard.pdf
SWINE FLU BREAKING NEWS: Global case count, US cases widespread, pigs infected, Mexico sees improvement, concern about hoarding
The Centers for Disease Control reported 286 confirmed US cases in 36 states as of this morning. The total included 73 cases in New York, 41 in Texas, 30 in California, 20 in Delaware, and 17 in Arizona. At a briefing yesterday, the CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat said the virus is widespread, meaning that “virtually all of the United States probably has this virus circulating now.” She also said 30 patients, mainly older children and younger adults, had been hospitalized, and some of those cases were severe. [CDC swine flu page] The demand for oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) is running nine times normal for this time of year, Reuters reported recently, quoting SDI, a firm that provides healthcare analysis for the drug industry. But hoarding has not prevented supplies from reaching those who need them, and major distributors said they still had adequate amounts, the story said. [Reuters report] A swine herd in Alberta was found to be infected with the H1N1 virus, probably from a Canadian carpenter who works on the farm and had a flu-like illness when he returned from a visit to Mexico in mid-April, Canadian and US authorities reported on May 2. The carpenter has recovered and the pigs were recovering, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said. The farm has been quarantined. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said pork and pork products remain safe and the finding would not affect US trade with Canada. At a briefing yesterday, a WHO official said the virus in the swine does not appear to be different from the one in humans. [CFIA statement, USDA statement] The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC urged the public not to hoard drugs and supplies for treating and preventing flu, so that supplies will remain for those most in need. In a statement today, the agencies said consumers may encounter spot shortages of antiviral drugs and masks. [FDA-CDC statement] Twenty countries were reporting a total of 985 confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 (swine flu) as of early today, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. Mexico has reported 590 cases with 25 deaths. The WHO total includes yesterday’s US report of 226 cases in 30 states, with one death. Other countries with more than 10 cases were Canada, 85; Spain, 40; and the United Kingdom, 15. [WHO statement] Mexico’s flu epidemic has begun to decline, according to Health Minister Angel Cordova as quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) today. He said hospital admissions for flu-like illness were dropping and credited the public’s use of face masks and handwashing for helping to limit the epidemic. But he said the assessment was preliminary and the country had to stay on guard. [AFP report] May 4, 2009
Why is Martin Garrix, the world’s best EDM DJ coming to Pula? Because of prestige
Among his successes are residencies in Ibiza and Las Vegas, and the popularity is evidenced by the fact that the total number of his YouTube views is over four billion. Martin Garrex was also dealt with as a musical phenomenon by Forbes magazine, which included him on the list of the most influential people under 30, and has been convincingly at the top of the highest paid DJs for years.Pula Arena is one of the most desirable stages in the world, which, in addition to raising performances to a completely higher level, also serves as a confirmation of star status. This summer, after the biggest world names who have had the opportunity to turn the amphitheater into their stage, Martin Garrix will leave his mark and send one of the best postcards of our tourism and once again confirm Croatia as a TOP festival destination in the world.Tickets for the Martin Garrix concert in Pula can be purchased in the Eventim system and at www.premiumevents.hr. Pula Arena is one of the most beautiful and attractive open stages in the world, and having the opportunity to perform in Pula Arena already has a status symbol and a matter of prestige for world musicians.So this summer the list of musicians and events that have performed or will perform in the cult Arena is impressive, from the LADO Ensemble, Pula Film Festival, French chanson legend Charles Aznavour to Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. The end of summer is reserved for world popular electronic festivals music that brings together tens of thousands of young people from all over the world every year. Thus, as part of the Dimensions festival, the cult German band Kraftwerk is coming, among others, and a week before the stage of the Pula Arena will be dominated by another big name on the music scene – Martin Garrix.How did Martin Garrix, currently the world’s best EDM DJ, come to Pula?Getting or booking one such musical name, such as Martin Garixx, is almost impossible, even when you offer a lot more money than other organizers and you have an impressive list of concerts behind you. Especially if we know that we are competing with the world’s most famous destinations, from Paris, Dubai, New York, Sydney, etc.… But as money is not always the main ticket to negotiations, says the example from Pula.How did Martin Garrix, currently the world’s best EDM DJ, come to Pula? It is simply a matter of prestige – the organizers point out and add that it was not necessary to explain where they were calling him and at what location they wanted to hire him. Suffice it to say – Croatia, Pula, Roman Amphitheater. And that’s it.The word prestige (from the French prestige meaning “reputation” or “significance”; from the Latin praestigium “sign” and praestigiae “representation”) is mainly used to describe the significance, reputation of a person, place, object, institution or group of people or objects in the public of one district or in the vicinity of one culture. The word “prestige” is closely related to the term status.Not everyone can play in front of such an ambience even in the Pula Arena, and few world musicians can boast that they succeeded. Of course, the organization of festivals as well as tours of musicians are done for profit, but sometimes money is not in the foreground, but a unique experience. And exactly this unique experience is told by the Pula Arena, which has become a status symbol and a matter of prestige for world musicians.Of course, in the whole story, the whole of Croatia has a great benefit and promotion as a festival destination, and especially Pula, because these concerts are the motive for coming and generate a lot of tourist spending. On average, guests of such large concerts stay for three days, ie they spend two to three nights and generate much higher tourist consumption than other guests. Also, when Martin Garixx performs in one destination, it is much easier to bring many other music stars.Martin Garrix – the world’s best EDM DJ on August 22.08.2018, 2000 performs in the iconic XNUMX-year-old Pula amphitheaterA real treat awaits all electronic music fans this summer. World DJ number 1 Martin Garrix will fill the impressive Pula amphitheater with his performance, and special guests will join him at the performance.Martin Garrix will do some of his most famous hits like Animals, Forbidden Voices or Oops, 22.08. Pula Arena turn into the most desirable party destination of the season. The 22-year-old Dutch DJ has established himself among the biggest names in electronic music in recent years. He started breaking into the music charts in 2013, while the peak of his career so far is marked by 2016 and 2017, when DJ Mag named him the best DJ for two years in a row. Most of his hits prove that Garrix does not follow trends, but creates them, and a large number of hits led him to collaborate with some of today’s biggest stars such as Tiësto, Avicii, Usher and Justin Bieber.
Tourist guides are asking for Vukovar to be declared a place of special reverence as a protected site
Ahead of the drafting of the ordinance on protected sites, the implementation of which is already late, and is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Tourism, the Association of Tourist Guides of Vukovar reiterates the request to include the area of Vukovar as a fully protected entity (site).As Dubravko Žuvić, President of the Association of Tourist Guides of the City of Vukovar, points out, given that they encounter more and more illegal activities of a tourist guide, incorrect presentation of the cultural heritage and history of Vukovar, we believe it is necessary to insist on their adoption. “Vukovar is an area that should be of exceptional national interest, and in order to preserve the memory of Vukovar and the dignity of the Homeland War, we believe it is crucial to tell visitors and tourists the truth about the Homeland War and appropriately show, convey the suffering, emotions and pride of this areas. ” emphasizes Žuvić.By the way, the list of protected sites in Croatia should have been adopted by the Ministry of Tourism, in accordance with the new one Law on the provision of services in tourism which came into force in early 2018, but to date no decision has been made on protected sites.We single out from the Law on the provision of services in tourism.the provision of tourist guide services to citizens of another Contracting State to the Treaty on the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation on a temporary or occasional basis is regulated in such a way that it can provide tourist guide services in the Republic of Croatia, except in or in protected areas; this equates the position of the above tourist guides with Croatian tourist guides who have passed only the general part of the professional exam:Authorization is given to the Minister of Tourism to prescribe, with the prior opinion of the Minister responsible for culture and nature protection, a rulebook for a list of protected sites (localities) which would be narrower than the current list of tourist sites (localities) by counties, and which would not include public areas, city squares, forests, parks and the like;”We hope that the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Capelli and the Minister of Culture, Ms. Obuljen Koržinek, to consider and accept this proposal and to harmonize the Ordinance on Protected Entities (sites) with the Bill on the Proclamation of Vukovar as a Special patriotism with the aim of preserving lasting memory and remembrance of the victim of Vukovar in the Homeland War, building peace, encouraging its social development with special emphasis on the development of cultural tourism in accordance with the adopted national strategy for cultural tourism, which cannot be realized without systematic protection of all proposed protected sites and a unit whose professional interpretation requires additional education in a special part of the curriculum for the education of tourist guides with the aim of promoting and protecting the national and local identity of the Croatian people. ” concludes Žuvić.The Association of Tourist Guides of the City of Vukovar welcomes the Decision of the City of Vukovar to recognize the importance of the activities of tourist guides and the importance of authentic representation of the Homeland War and Vukovar as a fully protected site.
Strategic partnership between FC Bayern Munich and Istria: So far, it has implemented seven of the nine major activities
6. Communication campaign through all FC Bayern Munich channels worth € 150; In the first part of the spectacle, there will be presentations of all teams – two teams of Vatreni and two of Bayern, followed by a draw of the tournament competition and a mini show match for children. The tournament will start with two semi-final matches between the teams of the legendary Fire and Bayern legends. The winners of these two matches will compete for the first place, and the defeated teams for the third place. So far, he has realized seven of the nine major activities. Legends of FC Bayern Munich against the legends of Vatreni in the ancient Pula Arena 4. Promotion of Istria through all channels in the online and offline segment with all presentation channels at the stadium of the Munich Allianz Arena for seven days; The basic idea of the strategic partnership was to merge two premium brands through which to create the identification of quality and top products in the way of networking marketing activities in the offline and online segment, e-marketing, social networks and specific marketing campaigns in cooperation with Bayern. 7. Ticket package for the promotion of the destination of Istria at the stadium of the Munich Allianz Arena, 1. Selection and recording of three players of FC Bayern Munich as the main testimonials for the tourist promotion of the destination of Istria – a significant destination campaign; Smartly and logically, all projects are positioned in such a way that they take place in a period that is important for Istria for the tourist promotion of the destination, ie the winter months and the pre-season. 5. Matchdaypresenter intended for media representatives; 2. Arrival and appearance of Bayern’s representatives at the famous ‘Free’ tourism fair in Munich with all the associated promotional activities carried out at the fair; This tourist and entertainment spectacle is the result of a strategic partnership between the Tourist Board of the Istrian County and the powerful Bavarian club, which was formed a year ago, and which was concluded for three years. FC Bayern Munich is the 4th most valuable club in the world and one of the main brands in Germany, and the key word is the market. Namely, Germany is our most important and largest emitting market, and within Germany, Bavaria certainly has the largest share. So the strategic partnership of FC Bayern Munich and Istria, certainly represents the largest and most important marketing project in tourism, and for Istria a strategic project in positioning the destination The remaining two, which are also the most important projects – the annual workshop of FC Bayern Munich (planned from 25 to 27 June) and the end of the first year of cooperation, which will be crowned in the best possible way – with a duel of legends: Vatreni vs. FC Bayern Munich. 3. Matchdaypresenter intended for owners, co-owners and strategic partners; Although the teams are still being formed, the famous players from Bayern will be: Ivica Olić, Paulo Sergio, Giovane Elber, Martín DeMichelis, Luca Toni, Klaus Augenthaler, Marcel Witeczek, while the Fire Forces will be: Stipe Pletikosa, Robert Jarni, Ivan Klasnić, Marjan Mrmić, Ardian Kozniku, Petar Krpan, Ognjen Vukojević and others. Photo: TZ Istra / Cover photo: TZ Istra / Illustration: HrTurizam.hr The strategic partnership gives Istria the opportunity to cooperate on nine major marketing projects annually. The show match starts at 20 pm with an entertainment program and accompanying animation, and tickets can already be purchased in advance on ticketshop.hr, at all Tisak media points of sale and at the box office in front of the Arena on the day of the event. The attractive tournament will take place on a 40-by-20-meter indoor football field that will be set up on the ground floor of the Arena. The ancient amphitheater in Pula on July 8, for the first time in history, will become a football field for one day for a spectacular sporting event in which the legends of Bayern Munich will compete against the legendary Vatreni. 
The Motovun Film Festival has joined the global #PlasticFreeJuly campaign
Photo: Motovun Film Festival The European Parliament today agreed to the ambitious measures proposed by the European Commission to address the problem of marine litter. Ten different disposable plastic products are most commonly found on European beaches, as are abandoned fishing gear and OXO biodegradable plastic. After summer festivals and concerts, we regularly witness piles of discarded plastic on lawns, beaches or squares – primarily disposable plastic cups. Collaboration of Greenpeace and Motovun Film Festival “We realized that we were part of the problem and decided it was time to become part of the solution. From its beginnings we have been a festival that cares about the world in which it lives. In addition to the films we show, we want to show it with the accompanying programs, as well as the way we conduct the entire festival. This year we supported the global campaign #PlasticFreeJuly, and we will continue this way in the coming years” said festival director Igor Mirkovic. Thus, this year’s slogan of the festival proudly stands out “Our glasses are not to be thrown away”, and the organizers encourage caterers to throw out glasses, straws and plastic spoons during the event. The facilities involved in the action are marked with a PLASTIC FREE certificate, and visitors are invited to support such caterers. Thus, the disposable glasses that have been thrown away so far will be replaced by reusable glasses, which visitors will be able to return with a refund or keep as a souvenir. From there, they end up in landfills or directly in the sea, and then follow the years and decades of decay into smaller pieces, the so-called. microplastics. New research SKY-in which the analysis of drinking water, salt, air, etc. was done shows that the problem with microplastics is not only marine animals but ourselves. PLASTIC DISPOSABLE ITEMS FORBIDDEN IN 2021 EU FROM XNUMX For the above reasons, the Motovun Film Festival, which takes place from 23 to 27 July, has joined Greenpeace’s global action – Plastic Free july with the aim of raising awareness about the harmfulness of disposable plastics, permanent environmental pollution and the consequences for living organisms. Find out more about the project in the attachment. In cases where there are easily available and affordable alternatives, disposable plastic products will be banned from the market. So from 2021 they should no longer be sold plastic earplugs, cutlery, plates, straws, beverage sticks, lightweight bags, balloon holders, oxo-degradable plastic and certain styrofoam articles. HrTurizam.hr supports the global Greenpeace project of removing plastics in the tourism industry, and we hereby invite all tourism workers to discard plastic bags and sign the petition at the link / / / http \: //act.gp/ Finally, it is interesting how the collaboration came about. A simple calculation of last year’s edition of Motovun led to an interesting fact. The plastic cups that were used every day could be used to build a tower higher than the Motovun hill, which is located at a considerable 277 meters above sea level. But that scenario will no longer happen at the Motovun Film Festival. Well done for the environmental awareness and great collaboration. “We are about to transpose the EU Directive on disposable plastic into national laws. Since we know what damage we are doing, there is no need to wait for legal restrictions. This year, Motovun took the first steps in that and showed an example that other events should follow. It will take more time for caterers to get used to the spy return cup system as well, and we certainly primarily support the transition to such alternatives – reusable. We invite caterers, as well as organizers of other festivals to move in that direction as soon as possible”, Said Petra Andrić, Greenpeace campaign manager.
Trump is doing right by U.S. economy
This government does not have a problem with collecting enough in taxes. It has a spending problem. The deficits Reagan ran up were dwarfed by Obama.Lowering corporate tax rates won’t “just benefit the rich.” Right now, corporations set up headquarters overseas in countries with lower corporate rates than the United States and they do not pay corporate taxes here, but in countries more friendly rates. Twenty percent of something is more than zero percent of nothing. It’s basic math.Finally, even if you do not have big stock holdings, if you have a 401K that is invested in a mutual fund or other market based securities, you benefit from corporations moving back to the United States.President Trump has done more for our economy in one year that Obama did in eight years.Dave EdwardsHalfmoonMore from The Daily Gazette:EDITORIAL: Beware of voter intimidationEDITORIAL: Urgent: Today is the last day to complete the censusFoss: Should main downtown branch of the Schenectady County Public Library reopen?EDITORIAL: Find a way to get family members into nursing homesEDITORIAL: Thruway tax unfair to working motorists Categories: Letters to the Editor, Opinion Re Nov. 24 letter, “Give tax cuts that help middle class”: Without knowing how Mr. John Dworak voted, I could tell by his comments on tax cuts. His letter was far from factual, but had plenty of Democrat dogma.His anger regarding the Supreme Court decision in the case of Citizens United is so typical. Citizens United stated that corporations have the right to donate unlimited amounts to a candidate, just like unions can. I bet Mr. Dworak has no issue with CSEA or PEF donating unlimited amounts to Democrats. Now both parties can benefit, whereas for years only the Democrats would get huge sums from one source – unions.Regarding the tax cuts, President Reagan lowered the taxes, and the amount of taxes the federal government collected almost doubled. Look it up. It’s a fact, not a lie. The deficits Reagan faced were not from cutting taxes; they were from rising spending.
Come Shell and high water
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Transport: Trains, planes, no automobiles
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It’s gym life, but not as we know it
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Property Company of the Year
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Petchey losing Newport hold
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PREMIUMSouth Korea to open consulate in Bali in mid-2020
Forgot Password ? Linkedin Log in with your social account Facebook LOG INDon’t have an account? Register here South-Korea South-Korean-visa bilateral-relations Consulate-General For some foreigners living in Indonesia, getting consular services from their country’s mission might be burdensome even if they have been living in the country for years, as there are limited services available.This is especially true for those who do not reside in the capital or other big cities.This kind of inconvenience was faced by Joo, 26, a South Korean citizen who has spent most of her life in Indonesia. She and her family moved to Indonesia when she was 2 months old and they lived in Bali until she was 18.“I had to go to Jakarta or South Korea to extend or register for a new passport [while still living in Bali],” Joo told The Jakarta Post recently, explaining the challenges she had to overcome due to the absence of a South Korean mission on the island.However, such struggles might go away if the South Korean government’s plan to open a co… Topics : Google
“All is well.” In Italy, triage and lies for virus patients
As the COVID-19 epidemic expands and the disease progresses, these beds are in increasing demand, especially because of the breathing problems the illness can bring. Every time a bed comes free, two anesthesiologists consult with a specialist in resuscitation and an internal medicine physician to decide who will occupy it.Age and pre-existing medical conditions are important factors. So is having a family.”We have to take into account whether older patients have families who can take care of them once they leave the ICU, because they will need help,” says Marco Resta, deputy head of Policlinico San Donato’s Intensive Care Unit.Even if there is no chance, he says, you have to “look a patient in the face and say, ‘All is well.’ And this lie destroys you.” The fight against death pauses every day at 1 p.m.At that time, doctors in the intensive care unit of Policlinico San Donato phone relatives of the unit’s 25 critically-ill coronavirus patients, all of whom are sedated and have tubes down their throats to breathe, to update the families. Lunchtime used to be for visiting hours at this Milan hospital. But now, as the country grapples with a coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 2,000 people, no visitors are allowed in. And no one in Italy leaves their homes anymore.When the doctors make the calls, they try not to give false hope: They know that one out of two patients in intensive care with the disease caused by the virus is likely to die. The most devastating medical crisis in Italy since World War Two is forcing doctors, patients and their families to make decisions that Resta, a former military doctor, said he has not experienced even in war. As of Monday, 2,158 people had died and 27,980 been infected by coronavirus in Italy – the second highest number of reported cases and deaths in the world behind China.Resta says that 50% of those with COVID-19 who are accepted into intensive care units in Italy are dying, compared with a usual mortality rate of 12% to 16% in such units nationwide.Medical workers in protective suits monitor a coronavirus patient who is being transferred in an ambulance from the intensive care unit of the Gemelli Hospital to the Columbus Covid Hospital, which has been assigned as one of the new coronavirus treatment hospitals in Rome, Italy, March 16, 2020. (REUTERS/Handout/Gemelli Policlinico)Doctors have warned that northern Italy – where the universal healthcare system is ranked among the world’s most efficient – is a forerunner of crises that the disease is bringing around the world. The outbreak, which hit the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto first, has crippled the local network of hospitals, putting their intensive care units under colossal strain.Over three weeks, 1,135 people have needed intensive care in Lombardy, but the region has only 800 intensive care beds, according to Giacomo Grasselli, head of the intensive care unit at Milan’s Policlinico hospital, which is separate from San Donato. Grasselli coordinates all the state-run intensive care units across Lombardy.Such dilemmas are not new in the medical profession. When treating patients with breathing difficulties, intensive care doctors always evaluate their chance of recovery before intubation – an invasive procedure that involves inserting a tube into the mouth and down the throat and airway.But these high numbers mean doctors must choose more often, and more quickly, who deserves a greater chance of survival – a triage that is particularly wrenching in a Catholic country that does not allow assisted dying, and where the population is, according to statistics agency Eurostat, the oldest in Europe with nearly one person in four aged 65 or older.”We are not used to such drastic decisions,” says Resta, a 48-year-old anesthesiologist.A priest blesses the Columbus Clinic, where patients suffering from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were moved from Spallanzani Hospital, in Rome, Italy March 16, 2020. (REUTERS/Remo Casilli)Take a chanceItalian doctors say that so many elderly COVID-19 patients are showing up with breathing problems, they can’t take a chance on those who have a slim hope of recovery.Alfredo Visioli was one such patient. When he was diagnosed, the 83-year old from Cremona was living a busy, active life, at home with a German shepherd, Holaf, that the family had given him. He cared for his 79-year-old wife, Ileana Scarpanti, who had suffered a stroke two years ago, said his granddaughter Marta Manfredi.At first, he only had intermittent fever, but two weeks after he was diagnosed with COVID-19, he developed pulmonary fibrosis – a disease resulting from lung tissue becoming damaged and scarred, which makes it harder and harder to breathe.Doctors in the hospital at Cremona, a town of about 73,000 in the Lombardy region, had to decide whether to intubate him to help him breathe.”They said there was no point,” said Manfredi.She would have liked to hold her grandfather’s hand, she said, while he was in a morphine-induced sleep before he died.Now Manfredi is worried about her grandmother. Ileana also caught COVID-19 and is now in the hospital, though she is responding well to a mouth respirator that is helping her breathe. No-one has told Ileana her husband is dead.Lombardy intensive care coordinator Grasselli said he believed that, so far, all patients with a reasonable chance of recovering and living an acceptable quality of life had been treated.But he added that this approach is under strain. “Previously, for some people we would have said, ‘let’s give them a chance for a few days.’ Now we have to be more stringent.”Medical workers in protective suits push an isolation stretcher in front of the Columbus Clinic, where patients suffering from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were moved from Spallanzani Hospital, in Rome, Italy March 16, 2020. (REUTERS/Remo Casilli)Reorganized hospitalsThis triage is happening outside of hospitals, too.On Friday, the mayor of Fidenza, a city just outside the Lombardy region, shut access to the local hospital for 19 hours. It was overcrowded with COVID-19 patients and hospital staff had worked 21 days without a break. While the closure was aimed at keeping the hospital going, it meant some people “died at home,” said the mayor, Andrea Massari.The new coronavirus first appeared in Italy in January, but the outbreak took off in February in the small town of Codogno, around 60 km southeast of Milan. Some medical experts believe it may have been introduced by someone who travelled to Italy from Germany.Rome moved quickly to isolate the north of the country, at first locking down 10 towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto. But that didn’t stop the virus. Within a week, 888 people had tested positive for the disease and 21 had died. Cases grew exponentially. Small towns were hit first, putting an immediate strain on small hospitals.Since last week, Italy has entered complete self-isolation. It has closed all schools, offices and services and ordered everyone without a compelling and authorized reason to stay home. The measures, which are being followed by other European countries, are aimed at stopping the spread of the virus.Italy’s authorities are particularly anxious to slow its onset in southern Italy, which has a far less well-funded system than the north.Private hospitals are usually reserved for paying patients. But the government has ordered them to offer free medical care to COVID-19 sufferers. Policlinico San Donato, which is privately held but licensed to work with public sector clients, dispatched teams of anesthesiologists and other specialists to the worst-affected towns. Fourth and fifth-year medical students were called into hospitals to help. Cardiologists were enlisted to help in emergency rooms and COVID-19 wards.Now, nearly all operating rooms in the Lombardy region have been converted into intensive care units, said Grasselli, the intensive-care coordinator. Hospital staff work overtime. Some are substituting for infected colleagues. Patients are being transferred across regions.According to Grasselli, the ratio of nurses to patients in the region’s intensive care units is normally one to two. Now, it’s one nurse for every four or five patients. “We have totally reorganized our hospital system,” he says.A patient is seen sitting inside the Spedali Civili hospital in Brescia, Italy March 13, 2020. ( REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo)‘Greater life expectancy’All infected people who arrive at a hospital struggling to breathe receive oxygen, Grasselli says. The issue is to what extent – and for how long – to keep them artificially respirated.Those with lighter breathing problems are connected to an external machine with a mask or, if the patient doesn’t respond, a face-covering helmet. If their condition deteriorates, doctors must decide whether to admit them to intensive care, where they would be intubated.But there’s a problem: Intubating can be taxing on the body, especially for older patients, says Grasselli. Even if elderly people survive, many can develop other problems, like trouble walking or cognitive difficulties. Even so in the past, doctors tended to try intubating even older patients, generally because they had the resources to do so, he said – adding that he would never intubate his 84-year old father.Before the coronavirus broke, “we more often had the luxury to try to intubate patients who were at the limit,” said Mario Riccio, head of anesthesiology at the Oglio Po hospital near Cremona.Now that’s changed. Italy’s Association of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care published new guidelines on March 7. Because it expects a “huge imbalance” between the clinical needs of the population and intensive care resources over the next few weeks, it told those on the front lines: Give priority to those with “greater life expectancy.”Men in protective masks transport a coffin of a person who died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19), into a cemetery in Bergamo, Italy March 16, 2020. (REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo)‘Let me die at home’Italy’s mass quarantining of its population adds emotional stresses to the suffering. Family members are not allowed to travel in ambulances with relatives, and coronavirus units are closed off to anyone who is not a doctor or a patient.Some patients who are not at the point of needing intensive care feel imprisoned in overrun wards.”Take me away from here. Let me die at home. I want to see you one more time,” Stefano Bollani, a 55-year-old warehouse worker texted his homemaker wife, Tiziana Salvi, from the pre-intensive care unit of Policlinico San Donato, where he is being treated for pneumonia after contracting the virus.The couple have not seen each other since she dropped him off in their car outside the Milan hospital nearly two weeks ago. All she knows, she says, is that his condition seems to have improved in recent days. “These are things a husband shouldn’t (have to) write to a wife who is outside, who can’t see him,” she adds.And some older patients have resisted going to hospital. Carlo Bertolini, a 76-year-old agronomist in Cremona who had made a name for himself locally with a detailed history of the town’s past vineyards and taverns, was initially very reluctant to seek help, his daughter said.Bertolini, who lived alone, started feeling sick at the beginning of March. Eventually, his best friend called an ambulance, which took him to the town hospital. When he spoke to his daughter on the phone from the hospital, he described the huge numbers of patients and the cacophony of the ward. “I feel like I’m in a war,” he said, according to his daughter, Mara Bertolini.Carlo was then transferred to the intensive care unit of a bigger hospital in Milan. Mara and her sister were able to visit dressed in hazmat gear – masks, gloves, white coat – to look at him through the window of the intensive care unit. “They told us he was the one with the most serious condition in the ICU,” she said.A man plays the guitar and sings from a balcony to raise morale on the sixth day of an unprecedented lockdown across of all Italy imposed to slow the outbreak of coronavirus in Milan, Italy March 15, 2020. ( REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo)‘Stay home’The former military doctor Resta says the situation in Lombardy feels worse than the 1999 war in Kosovo, where he served in the air rescue team flying patients from Albania to Italy.Whenever a patient with coronavirus is accepted into his hospital, he says, the staff write an email to their relatives assuring them that their loved ones will be treated “like family.” He says the hospital is trying to activate a system of video-conferencing, so that patients can see their relatives during the 1 p.m. call.A doctor, not a relative, is often inevitably the last person a dying COVID-19 patient will see. Loved ones can’t even approach coffins for fear of catching the virus.The last Mara Bertolini heard of her father Carlo, the wine historian, was when someone from the morgue called another family member to say they had his body.She holds no grudge against the hard-worked doctors, she said.What struck her most about her father’s last week of anguish was the look on the doctor’s face when she met him.”I couldn’t tell whether it was worry or sadness,” she said.”All he said to us was, ‘Stay home.'”
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Mourinho to take Spurs training via video amid coronavirus lockdown
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho and his coaching staff will put players through their paces from home starting Monday as the club holds live video training sessions amid the coronavirus pandemic.Spurs’ players are in self-isolation with Britain in lockdown and the Premier League suspended until at least April 30.The players so far have been working through their own individual training programs designed by the coaching and sports science teams, and England midfielder Harry Winks said they were still adjusting to the new routine. “It’s a bit strange for all of us, but I’ve got my head around it,” Winks told the club’s website.”We’ve all been given a schedule, but it’s flexible, we can do it in our own time.”So, for instance, I might have a lie in one day, but then I’ll work later. The important thing is to get it done.”On Sunday, the club said it gave Steven Bergwijn and Son Heung-min permission to return to their home countries. Son flew to South Korea for personal reasons, while Bergwijn returned to the Netherlands ahead of the birth of his child.Tottenham said both forwards will continue their individual rehabilitation and training programs during their time away.Bergwijn is recovering from an ankle injury picked up against Burnley earlier this month, while Son sustained a broken arm last month. 
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Beaches open in Barcelona as Spain decides on next steps of lockdown exit
The government has loosened the terms this week, with people allowed to take exercise and small businesses like hairdressers receiving clients with restrictions to allow social distancing.Under the next stage, bars, restaurants and places of worship will be able to open with limited capacity.In the fourth and final phase, expected around the end of June, beaches will open for sun-bathing and restrictions on shops and restaurants will be further loosened. The Spanish government will decide on Friday in which regions bars, restaurants and places of worship will open under the next phase of a gradual exit from the coronavirus lockdown, although it looked likely that Madrid and Catalonia would not move forward.In a sign of life returning to normal, Barcelona beaches opened for a short window from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday to allow people to swim and jog. People paddled on boards and swam in the water under the supervision of police.”This is freedom,” said smiling swimmer Marta Torrents, speaking on the beach dressed in a wet-suit. “To be able to go out to sea and swim – for me, this is perfect.” Spain has been one of the worst-hit countries globally from the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 26,000 fatalities. The regions of Madrid and Catalonia, home to Barcelona, account for around half of all recorded infections.The government will decide which regions will move to the second phase of its four-stage exit on Friday and the results will be officially published on Saturday. The country is aiming for a return to normality by end-June.”There are two areas more severely hit by the epidemic – Madrid and Barcelona – and it is perhaps reasonable that in these two areas the exit goes at a slower pace,” Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias said in a radio interview on Friday.Spain is emerging from a strict lockdown now in its eighth week, which has battered the economy and led to hundreds of thousands of job losses.
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South Grogol subdistrict head dismissed for issuing e-ID card to fugitive Djoko Tjandra
Anies condemned the incident and urged officials to obey the law. “It is a must to give the best and fast service, but don’t violate the procedures or ease the requirements, especially on the matter of citizenship administration,” he said. Read also: Indonesia will be ‘ashamed’ if it is ‘made a fool of’ by fugitive Djoko Tjandra: MahfudAccording to Jakarta inspectorate head Michael Rolandi, Asep was personally involved in the issuance of Djoko’s e-ID, having met with the fugitive’s lawyer Anita Kolopaking at his official residence in May. Michael claimed Asep had merely asked his subordinates to check on Djoko’s citizenship status based on Anita’s request.“The e-ID issuance request was only based on the file picture of Djoko’s old ID and family card stored in Asep’s personal mobile phone,” the inspectorate’s report said. “The Civil Registration Agency operators on duty issued the e-ID by ignoring the proper procedures because of their deference to the subdistrict head.”Djoko was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and ordered to pay Rp 546 billion (US$54 million) in restitution by the Supreme Court in 2009 for embezzling billions of rupiah from the state bailout fund during the 1998 Asian financial crisis.After being at large for more than a decade, Djoko has reportedly returned to Indonesia to file a review of his case, but his whereabouts remain unclear. He was absent from the first hearing for his case review last week.Topics : The Jakarta administration has dismissed South Grogol subdistrict head Asep Subahan for alleged misuse of authority after issuing an e-ID card for high-profile corruption convict and fugitive Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan confirmed Asep’s dismissal, calling his misdeed a “fatal” violation that should never have happened.“The inspectorate has completed a report and it clearly shows that [Asep] violated e-ID card issuance procedures,” Anies said in a written statement on Sunday. “He has been dismissed and there will be a further investigation into the matter.”
ASEAN’s youth learns financial resilience during pandemic
“For students, I think it is to be expected that they use online learning, but workers were also willing to learn new skills. It really shows a growth mindset among ASEAN youth,” Sathirathai said.However, he added that 69 percent of respondents said that they found it difficult to work and learn from home, including 7 percent of whom said it was impossible. The study noted that the main reasons were poor internet quality, high internet cost and household distractions, among other problems.People who are living outside the capital city and those with a below-college education were also far more likely to face difficulties with remote working or studying remotely during the pandemic.In Indonesia, 29 percent said that they found the internet expensive, but 43 percent said they had a good quality connection. Meanwhile, the survey pointed out that young people in the Philippines and Vietnam experienced the most difficulties.Sathirathai added that young entrepreneurs and youth working in the gig economy faced funding constraints caused by COVID-19.According to the survey, only 33 percent of those who faced funding constraints said they relied more on bank loans, while 31 percent relied on government support and 23 percent turned to online financing.“This is an opportunity for a public-private partnership to solve the funding gap. Youth need the funds to pay for their education, for taking care of their families and for entrepreneurs, to strengthen their businesses,” Sathirathai said.Similarly, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community deputy secretary-general Khung Poak said that member states needed to roll out government support or stimulus programs especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).He also suggested community-based learning to tackle education inequality during the pandemic especially in areas where people did not have stable access to the internet.Meanwhile, Research and Technology Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said that Indonesia still needed to finish its middle and last-mile internet connectivity infrastructure to provide stable and quality internet connections throughout the archipelago.“However, such a task needs large investment and time to be completed,” he said. “One short-term solution to provide better connectivity is to use the existing telecommunications satellites, but the government needs to ramp up frequency slots to do so.”Studying from home has become an increasing burden for students, teachers and parents alike especially in remote places in the country, which threatens to exacerbate the already endemic education inequality in Indonesia.Topics : He went on to say that 31 percent of respondents also found new business models and new ways to improve income. The trend is especially true for entrepreneurs aged 26 to 35.Young people are the fastest growing investor group as the number of investors aged 18 to 25 grew by 338.61 percent from 2016 to May 2020, according to data from the Indonesian Central Securities Depository (KSEI). Meanwhile, the number of investors aged 26 to 30 grew by 204.97 percent.The WEF survey, which was conducted in June, also found that 64 percent of full-time students and 38 percent of active workers used online educational tools more actively during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young people in Southeast Asia are learning about personal financial management and ways to increase their incomes in order to stay resilient against the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has shown.The study, COVID-19 – The True Test of ASEAN Youth’s Resilience and Adaptability: Impact of Social Distancing on ASEAN Youth, showed that 58 percent of people aged 16 to 35 years old had learned better budgeting. Meanwhile, 56 percent learned about the value of emergency savings and 31 percent learned how to increase their income.“It is a tough time and people want to be prepared to face the uncertainties. So, they learn more about conserving and managing cash, as well as ways to save for rainy days,” said Santitarn Sathirathai, group chief economist from Sea, a Singapore-based global consumer internet company that conducted the study along with the WEF.
Australian state to deploy military, impose hefty fines to enforce virus isolation
Australia’s second-most populous state Victoria said on Tuesday military personnel will be deployed to enforce COVID-19 isolation orders, with anyone caught in breach of those rules facing tough new fines.Victoria earlier this week imposed a night curfew, tightened restrictions on people’s daily movements and ordered large parts of the local economy to close to slow the spread of coronavirus.But nearly a third of those who had contracted COVID-19 were not home isolating when checked on by officials, requiring tough new penalties, Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday. Topics : Andrews said 500 military personnel will this week deploy to Victoria to bolster enforcement of self-isolation orders, with fines of nearly A$5,000 ($3,559.00) for breaching stay at home orders. The only exemption will be for urgent medical care.”There is literally no reason for you to leave your home and if you were to leave your home and not be found there, you will have a very difficult time convincing Victoria police that you have a lawful reason,” Andrews told reporters in Melbourne .Victoria on Tuesday reported 439 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. Andrews said 11 people had died from the virus since Monday. In total, Australia has recorded nearly 19,000 COVID-19 cases and 232 fatalities, far few than many other developed nations.
Novavax ties up with SK bioscience to boost supply of potential COVID-19 vaccine
As part of that deal, Novavax has committed to supply its vaccine to COVAX, a scheme that aims to provide equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines across the globe.The deal with SK bioscience would help it increase the supply to meet those commitments, Novavax said.SK bioscience will start producing the antigen at its vaccine plant in South Korea this month, the two companies said, adding that they had also signed a letter of intent with the country’s Ministry of Health and Welfare to make the vaccine available for its people.Novavax is also gearing up to deliver 100 million doses to the United States by January after it was awarded $1.6 billion to cover testing and manufacturing of its potential vaccine in the country.In an early-stage trial, Novavax’s vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, produced higher levels of antibodies in healthy volunteers after two doses than those found in recovered COVID-19 patients and the vaccine was “well tolerated” overall.The vaccine uses a technology known as recombinant nanoparticle to produce antigens – molecules that are designed to spur the immune system into action. Novavax Inc said on Thursday South Korea’s SK bioscience would manufacture a component of the US drug developer’s experimental coronavirus vaccine in a bid to boost its supply.Shares of Maryland-based Novavax rose nearly 7% in morning trade.Novavax has received $2 billion in funding so far for its coronavirus vaccine, including $384 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Topics :
Sumatran elephant found dead in Aceh
“The BKSDA’s medical team has been dispatched to the location. We are awaiting the examination results to learn the exact time and cause of the elephant’s death,” Agus said on Wednesday, as quoted by tempo.co.Agus added that the elephant had sustained an injury to its right leg. However, he could not say if the injury was the cause of the animal’s death until the results of the examination were known.The elephants, which are found in the wild only on the island of Sumatra, are a critically endangered species.The Aceh BKSDA urged the public to preserve the elephants’ habitat by refraining from destroying the forest. “Destroying elephant habitat could lead to conflict with humans. This conflict could cause financial losses and the deaths of the animals and humans involved,” Agus said. (dpk)Topics : A Sumatran elephant was found dead on Wednesday at a community plantation in Pidie regency, Aceh.Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) head Agus Arianto said he did not yet know the cause the elephant’s death.
Several patients contracted COVID-19 despite ‘never leaving home’: Task force
“They then became carriers [of the SARS-CoV-2 virus] that eventually infected the other family members,” Doni said during a webinar on Saturday, as quoted by kompas.com.Read also: Asymptomatic coronavirus carriers have high viral loads: StudyThe retired army general urged people to strictly adhere to health protocols, such as by wearing face masks and keeping a safe distance from others, to prevent contracting COVID-19.On Friday, at least 1,929 COVID-19 patients were receiving treatment at the Wisma Atlet hospital, according to data from the task force. Around 1,000 others were in self-isolation at Tower 5 of the complex, which served as the athletes village for the Asian Games.Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said he had ordered joint forces of military and police personnel to monitor the enforcement of health protocol across the country.Luhut had been tasked by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo with suppressing COVID-19 transmission nationwide amid the recent increase in the number of confirmed cases. (vny)Topics : Health authorities suspect that several patients currently in treatment at the Wisma Atlet COVID-19 hospital in Jakarta contracted the coronavirus from family members, because they had mostly remained at home since the outbreak began.National COVID-19 Task Force head Doni Monardo said around 7 percent of patients told medical personnel that they had rarely or never left home prior to their treatment at the provisional hospital.He added that medical workers suspected they had caught the virus from family members going about activities outside of their home without properly protecting themselves.
Ian Wright says Arsenal should already be looking to replace Unai Emery regardless of Leicester result
Advertisement Ian Wright says Arsenal should already be looking to replace Unai Emery regardless of Leicester result Leicester v Arsenal: Unai Emery press conferenceTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Play VideoLoaded: 0%0:00Progress: 0%PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration Time 12:06FullscreenLeicester v Arsenal: Unai Emery press conferencehttps://metro.co.uk/video/leicester-v-arsenal-unai-emery-press-conference-2045018/This is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.‘They’ve got to be looking at candidates now. I can’t see how all of a sudden from now, coming up against Leicester, I can’t see how it’s going to get better.‘You’ve got to be thinking Arsenal are looking for people, and if not why not?‘It wouldn’t surprise me if it was a Gazidis appointment the way things have worked out.‘If Arsenal don’t make the Champions League, which they won’t do the way they are playing at the moment, he’s got to go and the sooner the better.’More: Arsenal FCArsenal flop Denis Suarez delivers verdict on Thomas Partey and Lucas Torreira movesThomas Partey debut? Ian Wright picks his Arsenal starting XI vs Manchester CityArsene Wenger explains why Mikel Arteta is ‘lucky’ to be managing ArsenalEmery, himself, admits tonight’s match against Leicester, who have won eight of their last night matches, represents a must-win scenario for his side who have blown leads in their last four matches.‘This a very big opportunity. After two matches at home that we drew, tomorrow is a very good opportunity. Yesterday the players worked and trained very well with a good spirit and they give me confidence,’ said Emery.‘The most important is our mentality and going there thinking: ‘We are Arsenal.’ And we will go there with confidence and also strong in our mentality to be together to go to work against them.‘The circumstances – Ozil, Kolasinac, the Laurent Koscielny circumstances and if he was still here then he would still be captain and there would be no problem. But the team inside now, they are strong. ‘Is this must-win? Yes. But in our mind, for each match it is only to win.’Will Arsenal beat Leicester?Yes0%No0%It’ll be a draw0%Share your resultsShare your resultsTweet your resultsMORE: Arsene Wenger should have signed Jonny Evans for Arsenal, says Alan SmithMORE: Unai Emery hints Granit Xhaka might not play for Arsenal again ahead of Leicester clash Ian Wright believes Unai Emery is facing the sack at Arsenal ahead of Saturday’s result against Leicester (Picture: Getty)Ian Wright believes Arsenal should already be sounding out replacements for Unai Emery, regardless of Saturday’s result against Leicester.The Spaniard is facing mounting criticism following a mediocre run of results which has seen the Gunners claim just one victory from their last six fixtures.Defeat at the King Power would leave Arsenal nine points adrift of the top four heading into the international break and with Champions League qualification essential to their hopes of keeping star players, including the likes of new club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Wright fears his old club must act ruthlessly.‘Arsenal, the management side of it, should be at least starting to feel people out,’ he said.AdvertisementAdvertisementADVERTISEMENT‘If you look at he stats from Emery to Wenger it’s not improved at all, it’s regressed if we’re honest. Comment Metro Sport ReporterSaturday 9 Nov 2019 1:26 pmShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link4.8kShares Advertisement
William Saliba to be allowed train with Arsenal after loan spell expires
Saliba signed a five-year deal with Arsenal last summer (Picture: Getty)The Frenchman will be able to maintain his fitness levels with Arsenal and get to know his new team-mates ahead of the 2020/21 campaign when he is permitted to travel to the UK.If the new season’s start date has to be postponed, Saliba will be made wait to make his official debut for Arsenal.Saliba signed a five-year deal when he joined Arsenal last summer and has been hailed as a massive talent in France.More: FootballRio Ferdinand urges Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to drop Manchester United starChelsea defender Fikayo Tomori reveals why he made U-turn over transfer deadline day moveMikel Arteta rates Thomas Partey’s chances of making his Arsenal debut vs Man CityArsenal are facing a difficult period after the football shutdown caused financial issues at the club.The Gunners have already asked their first team players and Arteta to take a 12.5 per cent wage cut for the next 12 months and there is unlikely to be any big signings in the next window.Saliba could be one of a few arrivals, as Arsenal focus their efforts on bringing in free agents and convincing clubs to engage in swap deals.MORE: Neymar backed to ‘take over’ from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by former Arsenal and PSG manager Unai EmeryMORE: Former Man Utd hero Jaap Stam rates Arsenal transfer target Orkun KokcuFollow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Comment William Saliba to be allowed train with Arsenal after loan spell expires Coral BarrySaturday 2 May 2020 3:57 pmShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link4.2kShares Advertisement Saliba has been playing in France (Picture: Getty)William Saliba will reportedly be permitted to link up with the Arsenal squad, but the centre-back cannot represent the club if the 2019/20 season resumes.Premier League chiefs are aiming to play postponed games this summer and have devised ‘Project Restart’ which will see the campaign finished behind closed doors amid the coronavirus pandemic.FIFA have advised clubs to extend loan spells to reflect the new finish date of the season and Saliba has been at Saint-Etienne for the last year.Arsenal signed the talented defender last summer for £27million in a deal which saw Saliba loaned straight back to his former club, Saint-Etienne.AdvertisementAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTBut after the remainder of Ligue 1’s season was voided, it was unclear when Saliba would join Mikel Arteta and the rest of the Arsenal squad.French outlet RMC Sport claim Saliba will be allowed to train with Arsenal and the 19-year-old will be free to link up with Arteta’s squad, although lockdown is yet to be lifted in the UK and non-essential travel is banned.Saliba struggled with injuries during his loan spell in France, but had managed to regain full fitness before the health crisis forced football to stop. Advertisement
Wilfried Zaha opens door to ‘amazing’ Arsenal transfer
Comment Wilfried Zaha wanted to join Arsenal (Picture: Getty)Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has opened the door to a move to Arsenal after admitting it was ‘amazing’ to hear of the Gunners’ interest last summer.The Ivory Coast forward was heavily linked to a move to the Emirates last summer but Palace were unhappy with Arsenal’s valuation of Zaha and turned down two bids in the region of £40m for the winger.Peculiarly, Arsenal signed Nicolas Pepe for £72m after failing to come to an agreement with Palace and Zaha stayed at Selhurst Park against his wishes after failing to land a move to Everton late on in the window.AdvertisementAdvertisementZaha’s failed to recapture his form this term but Palace are unlikely to demand the £75m they were demanding 12 months ago if clubs come calling this summer.ADVERTISEMENTAnd the winger has appeared to open the door to an offer from Arsenal by admitting it was ‘amazing’ to hear off their interest and that he’s desperate to win trophies. Metro Sport ReporterSunday 7 Jun 2020 6:47 pmShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link15.7kShares Wilfried Zaha opens door to ‘amazing’ Arsenal transfer Zaha was keen on leaving Crystal Palace last summer (Picture: Getty)‘It was nice. Supporting them and having them wanting you at the same time, leaves you thinking: ‘this is amazing’,’ Zaha told Rio Ferdinand. ‘But things never worked out so you just have to move on as quickly as possible. I was thinking this may happen and my family was saying ‘wow it’s Arsenal,’ but yeah it just didn’t work out.‘I’m 27, trophies is what it’s all about. If there’s opportunities for me to win trophies then 100 per cent’.More: FootballRio Ferdinand urges Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to drop Manchester United starChelsea defender Fikayo Tomori reveals why he made U-turn over transfer deadline day moveMikel Arteta rates Thomas Partey’s chances of making his Arsenal debut vs Man CityHowever, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is set to be handed a modest budget this summer and that could be impacted further if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.The Spaniard’s primary objective is dealing with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future.The Gabon international has less than 13 months to run on his deal at the club and he’s intimated that he will not sign a new deal.Arsenal must therefore decide if they’re to cash in on the forward this summer or allow him to walk away on a free in 2021.MORE: Anthony Joshua speaks out on knee injury after attending Black Lives Matter protest on crutches Advertisement Advertisement
At Governor’s Residence, Governor Wolf Joins Cabinet Members, Experts, Community Leaders to Discuss Strategies for Combating Opioid Crisis
At Governor’s Residence, Governor Wolf Joins Cabinet Members, Experts, Community Leaders to Discuss Strategies for Combating Opioid Crisis May 04, 2016 SHARE Email Facebook Twitter
Governor’s Residence, Press Release, Substance Use Disorder Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf joined members of his cabinet, local officials, law enforcement, health care professionals, emergency responders and stakeholders at a panel today to discuss local and statewide efforts to lead the nation in combating the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic in Pennsylvania.In an effort to confront this epidemic collaboratively, Governor Wolf is conducting events statewide to discuss the initiatives of his administration, the state legislature, county agencies, treatment centers, hospitals, and medical schools. The Wolf Administration is eager to engage in these conversations in order to hear more about the challenges these officials are facing, as well as the strategies they have built to address this crisis.“Fighting Pennsylvania’s opioid and heroin epidemic is a top priority for my administration,” said Governor Wolf. “The community leaders here today work diligently every day to ensure that Pennsylvania leads the nation in the fight to combat the opioid abuse and heroin use crisis. This panel is an opportunity to discuss how we can work more collaboratively with the folks on the ground of this crisis.”In attendance at the Governor’s Residence were Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Gary Tennis, Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine, Department of Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy, Department of Human Services Secretary Ted Dallas, Department of State Secretary Pedro Cortes, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Tyree Blocker.After speaking about administration efforts to combat the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic, Secretary Tennis moderated a panel of issue area experts to discuss their insights and strategies for fighting back against this public health crisis. Panelists included Deputy Secretary of Health Innovation for the PA Department of Health Dr. Lauren Hughes, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan, President of the Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania Deb Beck, Director of Dauphin County Drug and Alcohol Services Cheryl Dondero, and Director of Community Health Solutions for Adapt Pharma Stephanie Galica.Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan stated, “Law enforcement is fighting the scourge of opioids every day, in every county, and on every street across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This problem starts with prescription drugs and then rapidly converts into heroin addiction. We have become a society that is reckless, promiscuous, and careless when it comes to prescribing opioids. Until we address this problem, our children remain at risk.”President of the Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania Deb Beck added, “With nearly 3,000 Pennsylvanians dying annually of drug overdoses, we are grateful to the Administration for helping bring focus to the issue.”Director of Dauphin County Drug and Alcohol Services Cheryl Dondero said, “As a woman in recovery, a mother and a professional with experience fighting this epidemic at both the state and county level, I am extremely honored to be a part of this panel. The effectiveness and positive impact of any federal or state initiative to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic is dependent on counties’ ability to adapt it to meet the unique needs of their local communities. County drug and alcohol agencies, with leadership and advocacy from DDAP Secretary Gary Tennis, are uniquely positioned to ensure that happens at the local level. In Dauphin County, we are realigning most everything we do and how we do it as we move toward being an initial and continuing resource for all residents in our county, regardless of funding source or insurance coverage, for information, education and assistance in accessing drug and alcohol treatment, prevention, intervention and recovery support services.”“The Department of Health is committed to being part of the solution to the statewide crisis that is opioid addiction,” said Dr. Lauren Hughes. “The fight against heroin and prescription drug abuse is a top priority for the Wolf Administration and finding solutions to this devastating addiction will take a comprehensive, collaborative effort from both the government and private sector.”“Pennsylvania is among the most impacted states facing the opioid epidemic, but we are also a leader in how we have chosen to respond to and tackle this issue,” said Thom Duddy, Executive Director, Adapt Pharma. “As a Philadelphia-area-based company, we are grateful for the work Governor Wolf, Physician General Dr. Levine, and Secretary Tennis have done to improve access to immediate-acting tools, such as NARCAN® Nasal Spray. Over the past six months, we have had the opportunity to partner with community leaders, such as the police and school systems, in order to educate, increase naloxone access, and offer support to on-the-ground harm reduction efforts to help Pennsylvanians in their battle with addiction. It is through these efforts and the legislative initiatives of leaders like Governor Wolf that we are hopeful for the wellbeing and future of the Commonwealth.”The Wolf Administration hopes that these discussions are just the beginning of a larger conversation with both Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate as well as local officials, law enforcement, emergency responders, and health care professionals.“I look forward to continue working collaboratively with the General Assembly and community leaders to ensure Pennsylvania leads the nation in the fight to combat the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic,” said Governor Wolf. “The magnitude of the addiction and overdose death epidemic in Pennsylvania is shocking: at least seven Pennsylvanians die every day from a drug overdose. With nearly 2,500 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in 2014 and estimates that the 2015 total will be higher, a collaborative effort on the federal, state, and local levels is crucial in combating this crisis.”Some of the administration’s initiatives in the fight against heroin include: signing a statewide standing order for naloxone, making it possible for all Pennsylvanians to access this life-saving drug; equipping the Pennsylvania State Police with naloxone so that those troopers who are first on the scene of an overdose can have another tool on-hand during these emergencies; partnering with Adapt Pharma to make Narcan available to public high schools across the state at no cost; developing the ABC-MAP prescription drug monitoring program to detect and prevent prescription fraud and abuse, which contribute to addiction; and appointing a director for the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) Office, who will work to ensure that the PDMP meets its goal of assisting healthcare professionals in identifying patients that would benefit from treatment.In an effort to curtail drug addiction and curb the supply of excess drugs that can be used illicitly, the Department of Health is leading an effort to build upon the opioid prescribing guidelines already created, including specialty specific guidelines for emergency department providers, dentists, obstetricians and gynecologists, and pharmacists. These guidelines give healthcare providers direction for safe and effective pain relief practices, with greater emphasis on non-opioid therapies and greater caution to prevent addiction and diversion. In addition, the DOH recently joined dozens of healthcare organizations, medical experts, and consumer advocacy groups in signing petitions requesting changes to federal pain management requirements that are believed to foster dangerous prescribing practices.The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs is developing the “warm hand-off” process “warm hand-off” process, whereby overdose survivors would be taken directly from the emergency department to a licensed drug treatment provider, as well as Pennsylvania’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Program. This program helps communities properly dispose of unused prescriptions at any of the 400+ police station locations across Pennsylvania. To date, approximately 40,000 pounds of prescription drugs have been taken back and destroyed.Governor Wolf’s decision to expand Medicaid eligibility in Pennsylvania under the Affordable Care Act has greatly increased access to treatment services for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.Finally, Governor Wolf’s proposed 2016-17 budget provides more than $34 million to treat more than 11,250 new individuals with substance use disorder. The Department of Human Services will provide 25 new Opioid Use Disorder Centers of Excellence for individuals with substance use disorder, providing medication-assisted treatment and appropriate wraparound services, such as cognitive-based therapies. After this first phase of implementation, there will be a push for 25 more facilities that would have the capacity to treat 22,500 individuals total.# # #Like Governor Tom Wolf on Facebook: Facebook.com/GovernorWolf
Voting in PA: Absentee Ballots 101
Voting in PA: Absentee Ballots 101 SHARE Email Facebook Twitter By: J.J. Abbott and Darwin Paz October 20, 2016 Innovation, The Blog, Voting & Elections If you are unable to attend your polling place in person on Election Day, you may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. You must be already registered to vote to receive an absentee ballot.If you’re unsure, confirm your registration.Here is a straightforward guide on how to find out if you’re eligible to vote absentee and how to apply for an absentee ballot.Who can vote by absentee ballot?A voter needs to have a reason or an excuse to vote by absentee ballot. People who may vote by absentee ballot include:College students.People whose work or vacation take them away from the municipality where they live.People with a physical disability or illness that prevents them from going to the polling place.Members of the military.People who may have a conflict due to the celebration of a religious holiday.Get an absentee ballot mailed to youIf you can’t make it to the polls on Election Day for one of the reasons listed above, there are now multiple ways to apply for an absentee ballot.Apply OnlineRegistered voters can now apply online for an absentee ballot with a valid PA driver’s license or photo I.D. from the PA Department of Transportation (PennDot).Note: This option will be available to military and voters overseas by 2020. Until then, military and overseas voters who can’t make it to the polls on Election Day can apply for an absentee ballot by mail.Apply by MailDownload and complete a paper absentee ballot application. Be sure to mark the reason why you cannot get to the polling place on election day.Mail your completed absentee ballot application to your county election office. Try to have it mailed by October 18.Apply in PersonStop by your county election office to apply in person.You received your absentee ballot, now what?Fill out your ballot.Once complete, place your ballot in the secrecy envelope and then put the secrecy envelope into the official envelope.Note: Be sure to sign the form, or your ballot may not count.Mail your completed absentee ballot to your county election office. Try to have it mailed by October 25.Deadlines to keep in mind for the November 5 election:In order to make sure you can get your ballot mailed to you and submitted in time, take these steps as soon as possible.October 18: Suggested deadline to mail absentee ballot applications.October 25: Suggested deadline to mail voted absentee ballot.October 29 at 5 p.m: Deadline for your county election office to receive your absentee application — whether applying online or by mail.November 1 at 5 p.m: Deadline for your county election office to receive your filled out voted absentee ballot.Note: Postmarks do not mean “received.”To learn more about military and overseas voter options or how to apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot, visit the Voting by Absentee Ballot webpage by Department of State.If you have any questions, you can also contact the Department of State by phone (1-877-VOTESPA).
Support Local Small Businesses by Shopping Small Tomorrow
November 25, 2016 By: Governor Tom Wolf Nearly 1 million small businesses and 2.4 million workers currently call Pennsylvania home, and owe their prosperity to welcoming communities, flourishing main streets, state support and assistance, robust higher-education programs, and a large dose of Pennsylvania pride. In fact, we often hear from owners that running a small business in Pennsylvania is the key to working smart and living happy— traits that stand out among our neighboring states.A nationwide initiative, Small Business Saturday encourages citizens to support local businesses and celebrate the critical contributions of entrepreneurs and small business owners.Small business owners can testify to the many personal benefits of entrepreneurship— the ability to pursue a passion, the opportunity to work alongside family, and the means to operate with creative freedom and flexibility are just a few.Small businesses are essential to Pennsylvania’s economic diversity — they commercialize innovative technologies, employ nearly half (46.9 percent) of our private-sector workforce, and account for more than 98 percent of all employers in the Keystone State.The upcoming holiday season offers an excellent opportunity to support the commonwealth’s hardworking business owners. I encourage you to shop local, eat local, and play local — on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26 — and beyond. If you’re not sure where to start, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office can help.Pennsylvania is full of incredible small towns and main streets that offer something for everyone, no matter your passion — or your gift list. Visit the world’s oldest bookstore, Moravian Book Shop, on Main Street in Bethlehem. Travel to Byers Choice, Ltd. in Chalfont for your Christmas gifts and ornaments. Choose a bed and breakfast like the Inn at Jim Thorpe instead of a chain hotel for a more hometown experience. The Pennsylvania small business options are nearly endless.Join the conversation on Nov. 26 and post a photo of your small business support on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook using the hashtag #SmallBizSat and #PASmallBiz.Thank you for joining us in support of our one million local small businesses this November. Economy, Holidays, The Blog, Videos SHARE Email Facebook Twitter
SHARE TWEET Support Local Small Businesses by Shopping Small Tomorrow Like Governor Tom Wolf on Facebook: Facebook.com/GovernorWolf
El Gobernador Wolf firma el Proyecto de ley 841 del Senado para brindar flexibilidad a los gobiernos y empresas locales
El Gobernador Wolf firma el Proyecto de ley 841 del Senado para brindar flexibilidad a los gobiernos y empresas locales SHARE Email Facebook Twitter April 20, 2020
Bill Signing, Español, Press Release, Public Health El Gobernador Wolf firma el Proyecto de ley 841 del Senado para brindar flexibilidad a los gobiernos y empresas localesEl Gobernador Tom Wolf firmó hoy el Proyecto de ley 841 del Senado que ayuda a las comunidades y empresas locales a responder a la emergencia por la COVID-19 y proteger al público. El proyecto de ley brinda flexibilidad en los plazos de los impuestos sobre los bienes inmuebles, permite las reuniones públicas y la certificación notarial de documentos de manera remota para que puedan reanudarse las ventas de vehículos en Internet.“Esta legislación bipartidista otorga a los gobiernos y a las empresas locales opciones adicionales para ayudar a quienes pagan impuestos por bienes inmuebles y abordar diversas necesidades”, dijo el Gobernador Wolf. “La COVID-19 sigue siendo una amenaza muy real y cada uno de nosotros necesita continuar haciendo su parte para reducir las interacciones físicas. Esta nueva ley es una manera medida y segura de brindar alivio al tiempo que continuamos monitoreando la propagación del virus”.El proyecto de ley establece lo siguiente:Reautoriza el Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council y exige que estudie la manera en que la COVID-19 afecta a los hospitales y a los sistemas de salud.Permite a los gobiernos locales realizar reuniones públicas de manera remota.Brinda alivio para los impuestos sobre los bienes inmuebles al permitir que los distritos fiscales renuncien a las tasas y penalidades por los impuestos sobre los bienes inmuebles pagados de aquí al 31 de diciembre de 2020.Permite a los distritos escolares renegociar los contratos con los proveedores de servicios con el fin de garantizar el pago del personal y los costos fijos durante el cierre de las escuelas.Permite la certificación notarial de documentos de manera remota.El gobernador vetó el Proyecto de ley 613 del Senado.Ver esta página en inglés.
Gov. Wolf Signs Budget to Sustain Education, Support Communities Amid Pandemic
SHARE Email Facebook Twitter May 29, 2020 Bill Signing, Budget News, Economy, Press Release, Public Health As Pennsylvania continues to address public health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tom Wolf today signed a state budget that will provide 12 months of sustained public education funding at 2019-20 levels and makes important investments in communities and programs to help begin to restore the economy.“Education must remain a priority even during a pandemic and this budget provides schools with the stability to continue building on the progress we have made to prepare our children for a successful future,” said Gov. Wolf. “Reaching an early budget agreement under these challenging circumstances is encouraging as we continue to fight the spread of COVID-19.“While this is an encouraging step in the right direction, more needs to be done to ensure Pennsylvania has the resources it needs to protect key programs and investments.”The $25.75 billion General Fund budget in HB 2387 includes an additional $2.6 billion in federal funding provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act. The budget sustains funding at current year levels for Pre-K Counts and Head Start, basic and special education in K-12 schools, and higher education. The budget also provides $300 million from the CARES Act to make up for a decline in gaming revenue that annually supports school property tax relief for homeowners.To help communities to recover, the budget provides $420 million to assist nursing homes with COVID-19-related costs, $50 million to help Pennsylvanians with food insecurity and $225 million for grants to small businesses through the Department of Community and Economic Development.The budget also provides $625 million to counties through block grants to help address the disruption to their budgets from the pandemic. The funding will assist counties with the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment, help local governments, and provide grants to small businesses, among other options.“As the state’s economy begins to reopen from the public health emergency, there are still unanswered questions about the state’s finances, but this agreement is an important step to stabilize our schools and put Pennsylvania on a path to recovery,” said Gov. Wolf.The governor also signed HB 1083, HB 2441, HB 2442, HB 2443, HB 2444, HB 2445, HB 2467, HB 2468, HB 2469, HB 2470, HB 2471, HB 2472, HB 2473, HB 2474, HB 2475, HB 2510, SB 166, SB 1108 and SB 1122. The governor vetoed SB 1027 and HCRRR#1.Read the veto message for SB 1027 here.Read the veto message for HCRRR#1 here.Ver esta página en español.
Gov. Wolf Signs Budget to Sustain Education, Support Communities Amid Pandemic
Gov. Wolf: Masks are Mandatory in Pennsylvania Businesses
Gov. Wolf: Masks are Mandatory in Pennsylvania Businesses SHARE Email Facebook Twitter June 26, 2020
Economy, Press Release, Public Health Governor Tom Wolf today reminded all Pennsylvania residents and businesses that masks are mandatory when visiting a business.“The importance of mask-wearing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect people and businesses cannot be overstated,” Gov. Wolf said. “Masks are required in businesses, for the entire time someone is visiting a business. It’s that simple and that important to continue to safely reopen the state and keep our case counts on the decline.”Multiple state government agencies sent a communication to Pennsylvania businesses this week outlining mask requirements:Everyone must wear a mask, unless they have a medical reason not to or are under the age of 2. That includes workers and customers. Remember, my mask protects you and your mask protects me.No mask, no shirt, no shoes, no service. If a worker or customer attempts to enter your business without a mask on, ask them to leave and return when they have a mask. A fabric mask is fine.Find PPE to protect your workers. Masks and other PPE can be hard to find given the high demand. But we’ve got you covered. Check out our online directory of PPE manufacturers and suppliers in Pennsylvania.Have good mask hygiene. Don’t touch the front of your mask. Make sure it covers both your nose and mouth. Don’t lift it up when talking to someone. Remember, the virus travels in the droplets we breath out when talking or laughing, not just when we cough or sneeze. If wearing a fabric mask, make sure you wash it and let it fully dry between uses.“Wearing masks in a business or when in a public space where social distancing can’t be maintained is a required, vital practice to stopping the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Wolf said. “It’s also a sign of respect for others because your mask is protecting them. Let’s continue to get through this together.”The state’s business guidance outlines mask-wearing requirements.The state’s restaurant industry guidance outlines mask-wearing requirements specific to restaurants.Ver esta página en español.
Local buyers snapping up cost effective terrace homes in Murarrie
Park Hill Village at Murarrie is offering large terrace homes, filling a gap in the housing market.LOCAL buyers who understand the convenience of living in Murarrie are snapping up terrace homes in Park Hill Village.Marketing manager for the project, Maurie Infanti, said with 22 out of 34 already sold in stage one, it was fair to say that sales were travelling well.“There has been a lot of interest from the local area, with local buyers who know and appreciate the area for what it is,” he said.Location is a huge attraction in Murarrie, and coupled with home-sized terrace homes, the developer has hit on a winning combination.“Proximity to the city and the Gateway motorway is a big attraction, with only about seven kilometres as the crow flies to reach the CBD,” Mr Infanti said.“Then there is the nearby train station and it’s also only about a 14 minute drive to the airport as well. “There are some really good schools in the area, and if you head further south in only a few minutes you’re at Carindale shopping centre.” More from newsMould, age, not enough to stop 17 bidders fighting for this home3 hours agoBuyers ‘crazy’ not to take govt freebies, says 28-yr-old investor9 hours agoPark Hill Village at Murarrie offers views, location and space.Owner occupiers are buying in, loving the benefit of having home-sized living but with the convenience of also having a pool, gym and picnic area without the upkeep.“It’s a nice way to have all of those facilities without the ongoing costs,” Mr Infanti said.He said more people were moving towards terrace homes rather than building their own home.“To build a brand new home on a block of land at Murarrie is very expensive, so this fills a void in the market,” Mr Infanti said.The homes are three or four bedroom, each with two car accommodation and on an elevated position with city and suburban views.To get a feel for what you would be buying, the developer has built not one, but two full sized terrace display homes.“It’s a number one drawcard because people can see the high ceilings and spacious living areas for themselves,” Mr Infanti said.Developed by Juxgold pty Ltd, stage one homes start at $599,000, with stage two set to be released soon.
‘Diamond in the rough’ hits the market for first time in 52 years
21 Oakey St, Stafford Heights.Ms Matthews described the three-bedroom, one-bathroom home as “a diamond in the rough”.“This suburb is really hot, property wise,” she said.“I’d love to see someone put some love into it.More from newsFor under $10m you can buy a luxurious home with a two-lane bowling alley5 Apr 2017Military and railway history come together on bush block24 Apr 2019“I won’t be broken-hearted if someone knocks it down and rebuilds.“We know people want to come here because it’s so green and lush.” The 3D Diakrit floor plan of 21 Oakey St, Stafford.She said because her mum had spent a lot of time in the kitchen, they decided to renovate it and also gave the bathroom a makeover.Ms Matthews remembered many good times running and riding around Oakey St.LJ Hooker selling agent Dean Hamilton said there was presently an offer on the property. 21 Oakey St, Stafford Heights.Ms Matthews said the home had “good bones” and needed a lovely coat of paint.“I can’t wait to see the future of this property,” she said.“It would be nice for someone else to have new beginnings here.” 21 Oakey St, Stafford Heights.For Karen Matthews and her sisters, the sale of their parents’ home will be bittersweet.Their parents died in November, only days apart from each other.Ms Matthews said their family home at 21 Oakey St, Stafford Heights, was being offered for sale for the first time in 52 years.“We all grew up here — the four of us girls,” Ms Matthews said.“My eldest sister used to live next door. “She passed away about 10 years ago.“It just means a lot to us. I live in the area as well. It’s like my stomping ground.” 21 Oakey St, Stafford Heights.She said her mum and dad were always about providing for the family.“Mum was a great cook and a fantastic dressmaker, and we always had family gatherings and dinners here,” she said.
Quality that can surely be banked on
2/24 The Strand, North WardListing agent Michele Hyde from RE/MAX Excellence said the property was bigger than most homes yet came with all the convenience of apartment living.“Spacious understates the proportions of this magnificent apartment,” she said.“Perched on our finest and most established hill, just above the marina and Strand, the residence enjoys remarkable privacy and seclusion, yet it’s just a short stroll to the CBD, restaurants and entertainment. “This is a never-to-be-repeated combination of fine luxury, total functionality and the very best lifestyle imaginable.” 2/24 The Strand, North WardMore from news01:21Buyer demand explodes in Townsville’s 2019 flood-affected suburbs12 Sep 202001:21‘Giant surge’ in new home sales lifts Townsville property market10 Sep 2020Number two, the complex’s penthouse, and the home of Norm and wife Jill for the past 11 years, has now come on to the market as the couple is ready to downsize.“It’s been a really great home and we’ve made many wonderful memories here,” Mr Linthwaite said.“Our kids essentially grew up here and we always enjoyed the location and how close we are to the city and The Strand.” 2/24 The Strand, North Ward“A full 7m of beautiful two-pak cabinetry houses the cocktail bar, sound control, display cupboards as well as heaps of storage, and a fifth bedroom or theatre room could easily be partitioned off.“This special combination of fine finishes, space, privacy and central location can never be repeated.” 2/24 The Strand, North WardSpanning across 400sq m of living space and an additional 60sq m of an exclusive use garden, entertaining large crowds will be easily managed. “To ensure easy access throughout, all corridors are wide enough for a wheelchair, and everything is on one level,” Ms Hyde said.“Of course, there’s ducted air conditioning throughout, vacuum-maid, Cbus, Clipsal lighting and NBN as well as lofty 2.8m ceilings to add to the sense of premier living.
2/24 The Strand, North WardRETIRED banker Norman Linthwaite has always been a numbers man. So when the opportunity arose to buy one of Townsville’s most promising blocks of land, he knew value for money was in arm’s reach.Known as “Banking Hill”, 24 The Strand in North Ward is undoubtedly one of Townsville’s most desired addresses with the highly secure apartment complex home to some of the city’s most prominent movers and shakers who live in the six apartments.Commissioned for construction by Mr Linthwaite in 2003, the property is a rare offering with a rich history. 2/24 The Strand, North Ward“The original deed holder of the land was Harold Aplin who, in 1861 granted the land to the Bank of Austral Asia, now known as ANZ.“In 1988/89, Jill and I bought the block of land, so we’re essentially the third owners of the land in 156 years.“There used to be an old Queenslander on the site but the bank knocked it down in 1974 and built a block of units.“That again was knocked down in 2004 after we purchased the land and we built the current block of apartments that are here today.”
Helensvale is hot property with big sales results on Gold Coast
illawood Properties executive director Tony Johnson said a high proportion of buyers were already Helensvale residents who are looking to upgrade or downsize“The Surrounds has clearly struck a chord with those who love living in this part of the Gold Coast, but want to be able to better tap into the Gold Coast’s famous lifestyle and amenities.“While many buyers have come from further afield, a high proportion are already Helensvale residents who are looking to upgrade or downsize.” Lorraine and Joe Passeri have lived in the Helensvale area for the past 30 years and were looking to downsize, but didn’t want to move out of the area. They bought at The Surrounds.Buyers Lorraine and Joe Passeri have lived in the Helensvale area for the past 30 years and were looking to downsize, but didn’t want to move out of the area. “We wanted something smaller than our large acreage home — something that we could manage ourselves well into the future — but everything we need is close by in Helensvale,” Ms Passeri said. More from news02:37Purchasers snap up every residence in the $40 million Siarn Palm Beach North6 hours ago02:37International architect Desmond Brooks selling luxury beach villa1 day agoRender of Helensvale’s The Surrounds.Villawood Properties executive director Tony Johnson said the sales proved demand for quality land on the Gold Coast remained strong.“With construction of the second stage of the Gold Coast Light Rail well underway, Helensvale is continuing to transform as a thriving suburb.
Villawood Properties executive director Tony Johnson said the sales at The Surrounds proved demand for quality land on the Gold Coast remained strong.GOLD Coasters have snapped up more than 100 land lots at The Surrounds since developer Villawood Properties launched its $500 million Helensvale community less than 12 months ago. The sellout sales result has prompted the developer to fast-track future land releases and push on with the construction of the display village and $4 million leisure centre.
Hundred-year-old Queenslander has style to spare
What a beauty. Take a look at 10 Markwell St, Auchenflower. 10 Markwell St, Auchenflower.McGrath Estate Agents – Paddington selling agent Alex Jordan said the circa 1908 Queenslander was flawlessly refurbished and redesigned to offer an idyllic lifestyle.More from newsDigital inspection tool proves a property boon for REA website3 Apr 2020The Camira homestead where kids roamed free28 May 2019The manicured 844sq m north easterly facing block is close to The Wesley Hospital and elite schools. 10 Markwell St, Auchenflower.The property was marketed as being on the high side of the prestigious street.The home’s hallway leads to a spacious open-plan living/dining area and features within the home include pressed metal ceilings and a fireplace for winter. 10 Markwell St, Auchenflower.A four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at Auchenflower has sold for more than $1 million.The property at 10 Markwell St fetched a sale price of $1.3 million on September 4. Enjoy having a feast at 10 Markwell St, Auchenflower.The entertaining deck spills onto a child-friendly level lawn.The front porch captures city glimpses and there is plenty of storage underneath the home to use.The Auchenflower home is only 4km to Brisbane’s CBD and a stone’s throw away to shops, cafes and a local patisserie.
University, TAFE student rental surge pushes vacancy rate down across the capitals
Students in Queensland are now in week 1 of classes at university while those down south in NSW are in the midst of O Week including Clarice Campos, 34, studying a Masters of Accounting, Xi Chen, 29, studying a Master of Accounting, and Mahreen Othai, 19 studying a Bachelor of Accounting.THOUSANDS of students converging on universities and tertiary institutions have helped push vacancy rates down across the capitals, latest data has found.Nationally, vacancies fell to 2.3 per cent in January, down from 2.5 per cent in December — with the number of vacancies dropping to 74,113, according to SQM Research data out today. Brisbane was the second best place for students and workers to be househunting for rentals in January of all the capitals, with 11,505 vacancies. Only Sydney had a greater number of properties vacant in the month (15,775). Brisbane posted a 0.2 percentage point drop compared to December, falling to 3.6 per cent — the same as it was last January.SQM Research head Louis Christopher said the tighter rental markets in most capital cities was to be expected in the first month of the year.“We’ve seen falls across all cities, as students prepare for their first semester of study and lease new homes, and workers also secure new rentals,” he said.Pity the students trying to find accommodation in Hobart which was the tightest of all rental markets with a vacancy rate of 0.4 per cent, up slightly from a record low of 0.3 per cent in December. Canberra was also tight at 0.9 per cent, along with Adelaide 1.5 per cent, Melbourne 1.8 per cent.Sydney’s vacancy rate was 2.3 per cent, with Darwin on 3.1 per cent but the best place to seek out rental deals was Perth, which posted the highest vacancy rate of the capitals at 4.4 per cent in January — down 0.7 per cent compared to the same time last year.“We are seeing very tight rental conditions in Hobart, which is putting strong upward pressure on rents,” he said. “While Sydney’s vacancy rate has dropped, it is still well up on levels this time last year. If the vacancy rate holds at this level in coming months, Sydney will be more of a tenant’s market in 2018 and rental growth could continue to ease.” CAPITAL CITY RENTAL VACANCY: Hobart 0.4 per cent: 126 vacanciesMore from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus21 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market21 hours ago Canberra 0.9 per cent: 569 vacanciesAdelaide 1.5 per cent: 2,793 vacanciesMelbourne 1.8 per cent: 9,744 vacanciesSydney 2.3 per cent: 15,775 vacanciesDarwin 3.1 per cent: 941 vacancies Brisbane 3.6 per cent: 11,505 vacancies Perth 4.4 per cent: 8,909 vacancies National 2.3%: 74,113 vacancies FOLLOW SOPHIE FOSTER ON FACEBOOK
Modern designs on large blocks are keenly sought in Salisbury
124 Golda Avenue, SalisburyMODERN homes on large blocks sell fast in Salisbury because they are so few and far between, a local real estate agent says.Mark Ward Property principal Mark Ward said it was generally an older housing market so contemporary homes were hard to come by.He recently sold a modern two-storey home on a 600sq m block for $850,000, making it the top sale in the Southern Star region to the week ended February 26.“We would have had 30 groups through (at inspections) and we had multiple offers,” Mr Ward said.More from newsCrowd expected as mega estate goes under the hammer7 Aug 2020Hard work, resourcefulness and $17k bring old Ipswich home back to life20 Apr 2020124 Golda Avenue, Salisbury“It was a bit unusual to have a contemporary home on a big block.“Homes like that don’t normally come up often on the market in Salisbury.”He said the size was what ultimately attracted buyers to the property.“The size was number one – there’s just so many different living areas,” Mr Ward said.Despite a lack of more modern homes, Mr Ward said there were still plenty of people looking to buy in the area.“The last couple of years in Salisbury have been really strong,” he said.
Beach house sells for $4m discount, still setting a record for the Sunshine Coast region
This mansion at 21-23 Webb Rd, Sunshine Beach, has sold for $18 million.A SUNSHINE Beach trophy home has sold for $4 million less than it was advertised for, but the $18 million sale price still sets a new record for the entire Sunshine Coast region.In one of the biggest real estate deals in Queensland in recent years, the seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion at 21-23 Webb Road was listed with an eye-watering $22 million price tag, but records have revealed it actually changed hands for $18 million on March 16. GET THE LATEST REAL ESTATE NEWS DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX HERE The view of the pool from the home at 21-23 Webb Rd, Sunshine Beach. Picture: Paul Smith. This property at 21-23 Webb Rd, Sunshine Beach, has sold for $18m. Picture: Paul Smith.The Webb Road property features 44m of beach frontage, a hotel-style glass swimming pool and a domestic and commercial kitchen.It also includes private self-contained guest accommodation, with ocean views from every room. Inside the property at 21-23 Webb Rd, Sunshine Beach. Picture: Paul Smith.Mr Russell also reportedly recently snapped up cricket star Shane Warne’s grand Victorian home in Melbourne’s Brighton, in a deal worth close to $20 million. The sale price of the home of tennis great Pat Rafter has been revealed as $15.2m. This property at 21-23 Webb Rd, Sunshine Beach, was listed for $22m but sold for $18m. Picture: Paul Smith.It is understood the home was bought by a company associated with Singapore-based David Russell, co-founder and owner of private equity group Equis Energy.Selling agent Nic Hunter of Tom Offermann Real Estate told The Courier-Mail Mr Russell “fell in love” with 21-23 Webb Road after just a two-hour inspection. MODERN MANSION SETS NEW RECORD More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus19 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market19 hours ago HOW TO MAKE $100K IN 9 MONTHS PAT RAFTER LOSES MILLIONS IN PROPERTY DEAL Cricket star Shane Warne recently sold this home in Brighton, Melbourne.The Webb Road absolute beachfront estate is only streets away from where tennis great Pat Rafter sold his beachfront home, with the sale price recently revealed as $15.2 million — a $2.8 million discount on what the Rafters had forked out to develop the property.
Gold Coast harbour front villa hits market for first time in 20 years
The villa at 5604 Harbour Tce, Sanctuary Cove.THE privacy and position of this Sanctuary Cove harbour front villa are what makes it so special.Owner Cassandra Dean-Rankin said the marina vistas and peaceful surrounds made it the perfect escape from a busy lifestyle.It was what made her buy the rundown, Tuscan-inspired property 20 years ago. The open living, dining and kitchen area is sleek as ever. Could get used to lazing by the pool. Check out those views!
Black and white gives it a sophisticated style.“The bones of the property are very good (but) I’ve made it so you can walk away and not have to maintain it,” Ms Dean-Rankin said.“My favourite part is the front courtyard. “It’s going to be sad to say goodbye.”A new kitchen, the master bedroom’s private balcony, a fireplace and courtyard overlooking the marina with outdoor bar, barbecue and pool are standout features of the home. Cocktail by the pool anyone?More from news02:37International architect Desmond Brooks selling luxury beach villa18 hours ago02:37Gold Coast property: Sovereign Islands mega mansion hits market with $16m price tag2 days agoShe figured it would be relatively easy to improve the two-storey home’s style but said the position couldn’t be beaten.“I lived in Hong Kong and came back and thought, ‘I really want to buy one of those harbour front villas’,” Ms Dean-Rankin said.“I’m right in the curve of the horse shoe so I’m very protected.”While she changes the home’s style regularly, Ms Dean-Rankin said a renovation had brought its design up to a more modern standard.
Wednesday people roundup
NOW: Pensions – The multi-employer trust has appointed Gill McClelland as national partnership manager in the field sales team covering Scotland and Northern Ireland. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the pensions industry, gained with Aegon and Legal & General, where she undertook a variety of sales and management roles.Nikko Asset Management – Alex Shaw has been appointed head of EMEA sales and marketing, a newly created position. He joins from Cambridge Strategy, and previously was managing director for the EMEA at Arden Asset Management. Before then, he held senior positions at GAM and Mercury Asset Management.PineBridge Investments – The global multi-asset class manager has appointed Mandy Adamou as senior vice-president responsible for Global Consultant Relations. She joins from Amundi Asset Management, where she managed its global consultancy business. Before then, she worked at Aegon Asset Management, Wellington Management and Morley Fund Management.Ownership Capital – Amsterdam-based investment management firm has appointed Peter Veldman as COO. He joins from Cyrte Investment, a subsidiary of Delta Lloyd Asset Management, where he was COO. Before then, he worked at ABN AMRO Asset Management, and an internal auditor at the Dutch regulator.EDHEC-Risk Institute – The institute has appointed two new members to its international advisory board. The new members are Brad Holzberger, CIO at QSuper, and Yuan Zhou, chief strategy officer at China Investment Corporation (CIC).Old Mutual Global Investors – Paul Emerton has been appointed head of UK stewardship and governance. He has nearly 25 years’ experience advising pension funds and fund managers on shareholder engagement. He joins from Schroders, where he was head of governance.Montae – Pensions adviser Montae has appointed Margriet Adema as partner for governance. She has been working at Montae as a senior consultant for governance and pension contracts since March 2010.CCL – The international regulatory consultancy has appointed Alan Leale-Green, previously Aberdeen Asset Management’s global head of compliance-front office risk, as managing director of its UK operation. OFT, SPF, Kyrkans Pensionskassa, NOW: Pensions, Nikko Asset Management, PineBridge Investments, Ownership Capital, EDHEC-Risk Institute, Old Mutual Global Investors, Montae, CCLOFT – The UK Office of Fair Trade (OFT), an independent public body charged with monitoring markets, has created a project board to oversee the audit of legacy insurance defined contribution schemes. Carol Sergeant will independently chair the board, joined by Ed Smith from the OFT. Regulatory bodies, The Department for Work & Pensions, The Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority are represented by Bridget Micklem, interim head of private pensions, Andrew Warwick-Thompson, executive director for DC, and Nick Poyntz-Wright, director of pensions. Accompanying them are National Association of Pension Funds and Association of British Insurers chief executives Joanne Segars and Otto Thoresen. In addition, chief executive Michelle Cracknell will represent public service body The Pensions Advisory Service, while David Hare joins from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Doug Taylor, a consultant and member of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, also joins.SPF – Kees Linse has stepped down as independent chairman of the €12.6bn railways pension fund SPF after taking up the job on 1 July 2013. He said chairing the SPF took more time than he had available. Linse is chairman of the supervisory board at the €90bn asset manager MN and the technological research institute TNO, as well as a member of the supervisory board of Akzo Nobel and MRC Global. SPF said deputy chairman Gerard Groten had taken over Linse’s tasks temporarily. Kyrkans Pensionskassa – Anders Granberg, chief executive of the Swedish church pension fund, Kyrkans Pensionskassa, is stepping down from his role in June. He will continue working for the church in a different capacity in a different department that includes the IT and real-estate functions. The recruitment for a successor is underway at the SEK12bn (€1.3bn) fund.
Long-standing head of Ireland’s construction workers fund to retire
He told IPE his replacement, Anne Keogh, had started at the scheme at the beginning of July, and that he was in the process of handing over his responsibilities.Prior to joining CIF Pension Administration Services, Keogh was pensions manager at Aer Lingus, which has recently concluded negotations with the underfunded Irish Airlies Superannuation Scheme.She spent 20 years at the airline before departing last month and told IPE: ”I greatly enjoyed working at Aer Lingus and all the opportunities I had there, but I am delighted to be starting my new role.”I am looking forward to the challenges and continuing Pat’s great work within the ever-changing pensions landscape.”Ferguson said he hoped to join some new trustee boards as an independent trustee following his official retirement.“I would like to keep my hand in and give what contribution I can to the industry that reared me,” he said.“I have worked since I was 16, so it’s time now to take a rest.”He added that he had a “fairly large garden that needs to be controlled”.Ferguson said he was very happy about the condition in which he was leaving CWPS.“Administration and board-wise, the set-up couldn’t be much better than it is now,” he said. “We’ve good governance all round.”He said the fund had recently overhauled its structure, leading to his appointment as head of the trustee secretariat.The move away from the chief executive role reflects the fact the CWPS is not the trustee’s sole responsibility – instead being part and parcel of a wider benefit system – a retirement system for construction executives, one for self-employed builders and the sick-pay fund for the industry.Ferguson was upbeat about the industry’s future.“The construction industry is on the mend,” he said. “We’ve seen our numbers fall quite dramatically, and, hopefully, the scheme will now start to grow again.”However, he said the challenge facing the fund in future would be a requirement to compete for members in the open market – following a ruling in May last year that found the 1946 law underpinning Ireland’s registered employment agreements, the country’s collective bargaining arrangements, were unconstitutional. As a result, membership in the CWPS is no longer mandatory for the sector’s employees. Pat Ferguson, long-standing head of Ireland’s €1.3bn Construction Workers Pension Scheme (CWPS), is to retire in October.Ferguson, until recently chief executive of the scheme and currently head of the trustee secretariat, said he would be standing down prior to his 65th birthday.Active in the construction industry for more than three decades, he started at the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) in 1981 and assumed responsibility for pension arrangements in 1986.He has been with the predecessor to CWPS since 2000.
UK Interserve scheme agrees £300m buy-in with Aviva
Interserve, a FTSE 250 company, previously used a portfolio of private finance initiatives (PFIs) as contingent assets to address a deficit within the defined benefit scheme, part of which were sold to the Pensions Infrastructure Platform in April.The buy-in was completed after a competitive tender process, with consultancy LCP and Sacker & Partners acting as advisor to the trustee.Trapnell added: “This transaction represents a significant risk reduction step for the Interserve Pension Scheme, reducing funding volatility and providing additional protection for all our members’ benefits.”Emma Watkins, partner at LCP added that the use of a “tried and tested” buy-in procedure allowed terms and pricing to be negotiated within four months of the trustee formally approaching insurers.Aviva’s director of bulk purchase annuities Nick Johnson said the firm was increasingly seeing mid-size bulk annuity agreements “being dealt with in a streamlined way, similar to smaller deals”.In April, in the wake of a UK government decision to scrap forced annuitisation of individual defined contribution pension pots, IPE reported that Aviva would be more aggressively pursuing bulk annuity deals.The deal follows the announcement of two larger transactions yesterday, with the Western United Group Pension Scheme agreeing a £280m de-risking deal with Rothesay Life and the PGL Pension Scheme agreeing a £900m longevity swap.The UK regulator earlier this week also settled a long-running dispute with the estate of Lehman Brothers, agreeing to a £184m settlement that would allow the underfunded scheme to pursue a buyout. The Interserve Pension Scheme has completed a £300m (€375m) buy-in of its pensioner liabilities, with Aviva insuring the risk.The deal will cover around 35% of the fund’s liabilities, according to a joint statement from the sponsor and insurance company, with chairman of the trustee David Trapnell praising the “significant” reduction in risk achieved.At £300m and the insurer’s largest bulk contract since 2008, the deal highlights Aviva’s turnaround within the bulk annuity space and exceeds its desired limit of individual arrangements.Despite previously being a large market player, it set a £50m cap on individual deals, before raising this to £200m in the wake of this year’s Budget.
Slovenia’s Triglav makes bid for pension fund manager
Zavarovalnica Triglav, Slovenia’s biggest insurance company, has announced it intends to make a takeover bid for Skupna pokojninska družba, a major pensions provider within the country.Skupna deals exclusively in supplementary voluntary pension insurance, and manages €218m in assets on behalf of its 61,000 policyholders, giving it a 21% market share in Slovenia. Triglav already holds 30% of Skupna’s shares.The other major shareholders are NLB Ljubljana – part of Slovenia’s largest international financial group – with 28%, and Gorenjska banka with 26%. The latter has agreed to sell its shares to Triglav under set conditions.Andrej Slapar, president of Triglav’s management board, said: “Our updated strategy focuses on the development of pension insurance products.“In view of demographic trends, we expect that, over time, the need for people to ensure their pension security will increase.“This means pension insurance will become more important in Slovenia and other countries.”Slapar added: “More active participation in the management of Skupna, as reflected by our takeover intention, is another step towards putting this strategy in place.”Last January, the Triglav Group, of which Zavarovalnica Triglav is the holding company, published its business strategy, amended to take into account the changing macroeconomic environment. The Triglav Group is planning further growth and development in key markets throughout Southeast Europe, to achieve a minimum 10% market share in all its foreign markets.The terms of the Skupna takeover must be published by 30 November.Slovenian brokerage Ilirika is acting as broker to the takeover.
USS agrees to survey membership on investment beliefs
Such consultations could allow for trustees to divest certain stocks or sectors, if they had evidence that beneficiaries support such a decision.ShareAction’s chief executive Catherine Howarth welcomed the university scheme’s decision.“It’s a victory for pension scheme members speaking up about their views, that USS has listened to their concerns and agreed to conduct a survey of members’ views on non-financial factors,” she said.“We look forward to working with the scheme to make sure the survey works for everyone, and hopefully this sets a precedent for the broader industry.”USS, currently consulting on changes to its benefits, has agreed to conduct the survey once all parties have agreed to the fund’s new structure.When the campaign launched in late October, Tim Colbourn, a faculty member of the University College London’s Institute for Global Health and a USS member, argued that many so-called ethical investment decisions were also financial ones, pointing at the risk of fossil fuel companies being overvalued.The scheme could not be reached for comment.However, upon the campaign’s launch, a spokeswoman for USS noted its work in building understanding of the risk of climate change, and pushing for the development of a regulatory framework that allows the development of a low-carbon economy.For more on the impact of scheme beneficiaries lobbying pension providers, see the current issue of IPE The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is to survey beneficiaries about its approach to investment in a breakthrough for a membership campaign that urged divestment from “morally unacceptable” companies.The ‘Listen to USS!’ campaign, organised by responsible investment NGO ShareAction, met with senior members of the £44bn (€55.5bn) scheme last week, delivering a petition signed by more than 3,200 members.The meeting between trustees and members of its executive board, including chief executive Bill Galvin and co-head of responsible investment Daniel Summerfield, resulted in an agreement to survey members on their views of non-financial investment matters.A Law Commission report on fiduciary duties, published earlier this year, ruled that trustees would be able to take account of non-financial investment matters – such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns – if they consulted with the membership.
Dutch pension fund SC Johnson to join insurer after liquidation
Fred Eindhoven, the scheme’s chairman, said the pension fund intended to transfer its pension plans to an insurer.In 2006, the pension fund paid Aegon a lump sum for the liabilities of all pensioners and deferred participants, with the insurer annually adding the net surplus returns of more than 4%, according to the scheme’s annual report.At the same time, the pension fund placed pensions accrual for its workers in a defined contribution plan with Zwitserleven.The contract, which expires at year-end, provides for at least a pension-asset growth of 3%.In its newsletter, the scheme’s board explained that the Zwitserleven contract offered hardly any chance of surplus returns or indexation, following the insurer’s decision in 2011 to fully re-allocate its investments to low-risk assets.“As a result of low interest rates, annuities at retirement will be much lower than in the past,” warned Eindhoven.He pointed out that the results of the Aegon scheme were much better, and even had the potential of inflation compensation.Last year, however, the pension fund had to come to a compromise with Aegon, which wanted to reduce the tariffs for future indexation unilaterally, according to the chairman.The Pensioenfonds SC Johnson has 940 participants and pensioners. The €112m Dutch pension fund of SC Johnson has announced it will liquidate itself over the course of next year, when it intends to transfer its two pension plans to an insurer.In its newsletter, the pension fund for the manufacturer of household cleaning products said it postponed its initial plan to liquidate on 1 January, as its sponsor asked for more time to assess the consequences of the decision.The pension fund said the players involved wanted full clarity about each of their roles, to achieve maximum support when the scheme is no longer implementing its fully re-insured pension plans with Aegon and Zwitserleven, respectively.It added that the employer would pay any surplus costs caused by the delay.
AMF CIO warns to prepare for lower-return environment
The 2016 return was up from 5.3% the year before. AMF said its five-year average return rose to 8.5%.During last year, AMF put aside SEK20.3bn in higher yield guarantees for customers with its collectively agreed labour-market pension SAF-LO.Even after this move to strengthen guarantees, AMF’s solvency level of 190% was still the highest among comparable companies, it said, giving room for manoeuvre within asset management.AMF said a high solvency level allowed it to invest in social infrastructure assets and real estate, which it had increasingly done in recent years to improve risk diversification and cope with low interest rates.The solvency level has fallen from 211% at the end of 2015.Premium income for AMF’s traditional pensions insurance fell slightly to SEK16.01bn in 2016 from SEK16.24bn in 2015.At group level, AMF’s total assets under management rose to SEK563bn at the end of December 2016, from SEK527bn a year before.AMF has around 4m members and is jointly owned by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Näringsliv) and the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, LO. AMF, the SEK562bn (€59.4bn) Swedish occupational pension scheme, has warned members to lower expectations even as it posted a 7.3% gain for 2016.Marcus Blomberg, acting CIO at AMF, said: “Our investments in real estate and infrastructure continued to give very strong returns in 2016, and the return on equities was also really good.“That said, there is still reason to emphasise that we are apparently moving towards a lower-yield environment.”Even though AMF had a long-term investment horizon and a strong financial position to help mitigate the expected downturn, it was not reasonable to expect the levels of return that had been achieved recently to be maintained over time, Blomberg warned.
UK roundup: PLSA launches diversity campaign
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has kicked off a year of diversity campaigns with the launch of ”Breaking The Mirror Image”, a collection of essays on the subject.The pension fund trade body wants to encourage greater diversity on trustee boards, having found that 83% of trustees are male.Speaking at an event this morning in London, PLSA chair Lesley Williams said the association will initially focus on gender, but that she intends to extend the association’s work into other forms of diversity. The work will continue beyond the initial 12-month period, Williams added. It will include a series of training sessions and other activities, as Williams told IPE last month.Contributors to the 44-page book include NEST CEO Helen Dean, Investment Association chair Helena Morrissey, Railpen CEO Chris Hitchen, and Pensions Regulator chief executive Lesley Titcomb. Richard Harrington, the UK government’s pensions minister, welcomed the initiative, adding: “A balanced workforce is good for businesses, their workplace culture and for investors. Firms with a good gender balance in senior positions and across teams perform better, and therefore attract the best talent.”Williams said: “Our campaign begins by looking at gender diversity, but there are many elements to consider if we want truly representative and diverse trustee boards – gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, and social class.”Titcomb added: “Good governance is the foundation of a well-run pension scheme, and diverse trustee boards can help deliver this.”Elsewhere, workers for the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) have struck a deal on a new defined contribution pension scheme after lengthy discussions with their employer.Prospect, a union, said it had negotiated higher employer contributions to the scheme of between 11% and 13%, depending on the employee’s contribution.Workers took strike action in November in protest at the closure of their defined benefit pension fund.Prospect negotiator Richard Tabbner said employees had secured “significant improvements” to the pension arrangements, but added that it was “extremely disappointing that industrial action was needed”.“The result should not be interpreted as members being satisfied with the outcome,” Tabbner added. “The closure of the defined benefit scheme broke clear promises that had been made to AWE employees in the past and members are rightly angry about that. The result simply shows that members felt the final proposals were the best that could be achieved at this stage.” Meawhile, the Cancer Research UK Pension Scheme has sealed a £250m (€292m) buy-in with Canada Life.The transaction was a continuation of the defined benefit scheme’s de-risking programme, according to a statement on the deal from advisers LCP. In the past three years the scheme has reduced its equity exposure and invested in assets that “broadly in line with the measurement of the pension obligations”.Kenneth Hardman, partner in LCP’s insurance de-risking team, said Canada Life’s backing of the buy-in had established the insurer in the “mid-range” market for de-risking, providing competition and further capacity.Ian Kenyon, chief financial officer at Cancer Research UK, said said the deal “both improves the funding position of the pension scheme and reduces the risk of contributions needing to increase in the future”.“This is another action which serves to reduce the charity’s cost base to concentrate spending on research,” he added.The combined shortfall across all private sector defined benefit funds rose slightly during February to £270bn, according to an estimate from JLT Employee Benefits. The average funding level remained at 85%, however, as assets also rose.PricewaterhouseCoopers also released its monthly DB funding estimate. Its Skyval index estimated that UK pension schemes had a combined deficit of £370bn at the end of February, up by £50bn in a month.
Accounting roundup: Reporting reforms and post-Brexit rules
IASB member Ann Tarca said: “I think it is more productive to be focused on EBIT or similar subtotal, which many preparers already do. I think we can deal with the management performance measure in the notes somewhere… I don’t think it needs to be on the face of the income statement.”The board’s discussions are currently at an early stage. Staff plan to bring proposals to a future meeting to see how their thinking could be adapted to a complex financial institution.Staff have acknowledged that if any EBIT-like line item is too restrictive to accommodate a management performance subtotal, it might be necessary to relegate any management performance measure to a separate reconciliation or the notes.The focus in the latest staff papers has shifted from references to pure EBIT subtotal to a description of “profit before financing and income tax”.Meanwhile, the IASB has also recognised the need for a separate investing category in companies’ income statements.Under this proposal, defined benefit (DB) scheme sponsors would classify any interest on a surplus to this new category.’Material information’ definition under reviewThe body that advises the European Union on accounting matters, EFRAG, has published a draft comment letter in support of an IASB draft statement on materiality.In a webcast to introduce the proposals, IASB member Francoise Flores said: “The definition of materiality is easy to understand but difficult to apply. It is a totally company-specific notion that requires the exercise of judgement tailored to a company’s circumstances.”In the context of financial reporting, material information is data that is either significant or relevant.Flores added: “Currently, there is little if any guidance in IFRS on how to make materiality judgements. This lack of guidance can be regarded as partly responsible for IFRS disclosure requirements not being sufficiently challenged in practice from a materiality perspective and rather being used as a checklist.”The IASB’s practice statement is non-mandatory. Interested parties have until 5 January 2018 to comment on the EFRAG draft.UK ‘should maintain international standards’ post-BrexitThe Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has warned that the UK has failed to give sufficient thought to the implications of its vote to leave the EU.In a policy discussion paper on the implications of Brexit for financial reporting, the institute said it supported a UK-specific endorsement mechanism for new international standards.The report’s authors argued: “[A] new national mechanism could function more smoothly and far more quickly than the EU’s, and indeed this should be regarded as a key prize available to the UK from the change in endorsement arrangements.”The paper also considered the option of accepting all international financial reporting standards (IFRS) as issued by the IASB with no modifications, as well as continuing to participate in the EU’s current endorsement mechanism.Finally, the ICAEW also called for the UK to join the IFRS Foundation’s Monitoring Board and the Accounting Standards Advisory Forum.Under the rules governing membership of the two bodies, there is no current basis for UK membership of either body.IPE has learned that UK government officials are considering separate proposals for a UK endorsement mechanism – possibly modelled on the Australian model. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has instructed its staff to prioritise the development of new type of financial performance measure to be included in IFRS statements.The board expressed a preference for a measure based on earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) over parallel plans to include a management-defined measure of performance.The IASB also signalled a preference for a modified version of EBIT over any off-the-shelf definition. The decisions came during the board’s latest discussions on its Primary Financial Statements project.
Ambachtsheer urges pension investors to quit tobacco investing
Tobacco caused “widespread suffering” and related investments therefore carried “undue reputational risk” if ethical issues associated with tobacco were not tackled, Ambachtsheer said.“Please take a moment to imagine a front page headline announcing your fund is an investor in organisations involved in all this,” he said. “In my view, it adds up to considerable reputational risk for your fund.”On the Record: How important is a pension fund’s reputation?“In today’s society, growing emphasis is placed on corporate image and brand. There is also a greater demand for responsibility. We see that responsibility strengthens our reputation, supports our business and allows us to distinguish ourselves.”– Vappu Aura, marketing and communications director at Ilmarinen, €38.3bn Finnish pensions insurerRead September’s ‘On the Record’ for more on how pension funds think about their reputation.It is not just large institutional investors that have abandoned tobacco, with smaller UK local government pension schemes having made moves in this direction, too. Ambachtsheer said that in addition to ethical arguments, there was a financial case to be made against tobacco investments. These carried “undue financial risk in exposing investors to a continuously increasing volume of legislative/regulatory and litigation actions”, he said. The case against tobacco exposure had become increasingly accepted by institutional investors around the world, according to Ambachtsheer.If pension organisations had not yet turned away from tobacco, they should ask themselves why not, he said. Investing in tobacco is unethical and financially risky, and any pension funds with exposure should seriously consider divesting, according to Keith Ambachtsheer.In his view, investing in tobacco amounted to a breach of pension investors’ fiduciary obligation, he said. This was a duty to ensure investment decisions pass “reasonable ‘ethics’ tests” and “reasonable ‘no undue risk’ tests”.“I have come to the view that tobacco investments fail both tests,” the renowned pensions expert said in his latest monthly newsletter as CEO of KPA Advisory Services.Tobacco investments were not ethical, Ambachtsheer said, because they amounted to an endorsement of a product that is the number one cause of preventable deaths in the world today, and is known to impede the achievement of 13 of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The industry has also made use of child labour, according to the International Labour Organisation. Keith Ambachtsheer at the 2015 IPE Conference & Awards“Possibly, it is because no-one to date has placed the ‘tobacco-free’ action item on the organisational decision agenda,” he said. “After all, the manufacture and sale of cigarettes is not illegal, and investment returns have been good. Further, making investment decisions with ethical connotations can be awkward.“It is my hope that this letter will trigger the appearance of tobacco investing on your organisation’s decision agenda soon. The case for divestment is growing stronger year by year.” Earlier this year, France’s pension reserve fund and Australian asset manager AMP Capital decided against investing in tobacco on grounds that overlapped with some of those outlined above.At the time, AMP Capital CEO Adam Tindall said the firm was “not prepared to deliver investment returns to customers at any cost to society”. Fonds de reserve pour les retraites, meanwhile, referred to tobacco consumption as “a scourge”.French insurer AXA Group last year announced it was divesting from the tobacco inudstry. The case was clear, said its CEO Thomas Buberl: “The human cost of tobacco is tragic – its economic cost is huge.” The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) last year decided to uphold a long-standing ban on tobacco investments despite a study prepared for its board that showed divestment had cost the pension fund some $3bn (€2.5bn) in missed gains. Its board also voted to extend the ban to externally managed portfolios and affiliated funds.
Dutch recreation scheme seeks growth through voluntary additions
The €660m mandatory pension fund for the recreation sector (Recreatie) said it would seek growth through taking in recreation companies that aren’t not subject to mandatory participation.Eiko de Vries, the scheme’s chairman, said that his pension fund could be of interest to the approximately 1,300 businesses that were currently exempt from a mandatory affiliation.De Vries: “The sector is still expanding. We see amusement and safari parks invest in residential recreation in particular to keep visitors for longer, while, on the other hand, combinations of swimming pools, sport centres and amusement arcades are being set up.“As a consequence, part of the staff is sometimes subject to our mandatory pension plan. To an employer, it would be much more practical if all workers were served by the same pensions provider.” As examples, he cited large amusement parks and wellness centres. “Sometimes, if a park also rents out holiday homes, part of their staff are already participants in the pension fund.”In these cases, the scheme could also start offering defined contribution (DC) or collective DC arrangements, in addition to its current defined benefit plan, De Vries explained.At the moment, Pensioenfonds Recreatie has 1,280 affilated employers. As its 18,500-strong membership is relatively young, it receives €40m of contributions annually.The chairman explained that the scheme’s expansion plan was triggered by the fact that it had to negotiate with two different employer organisations, which had produced two different collective labour agreements (CAOs).“This had made us aware that the social partners of workers and employers also had the option of seeking another pensions provider,” De Vries said.Co-operation or a merger with another industry-wide scheme was not an option acceptable for the social partners: they insisted on continuing their own pension fund, seeing sufficient growth potential to keep it viable.The chairman of Recreatie pointed out that the scheme’s growth plan required an active approach of employers, “with resolute and less viscous decision-making”.He stressed that expansion would also benefit current participants, as it could decrease costs, improve the service level and would be good for continuity as well.In his opinion, the plan was not at odds with the policy of the outgoing government aimed at preventing mandatory sector schemes further expanding their domain of influence.“There is sufficient coherence between our mandatory industry-wide pension fund and the companies that join voluntarily,” he argued.
Dutch pension scheme backs BlackRock ESG launch with €50m
Mathijs van Gool, director of the pension fund, said: “We wanted to introduce a measurable ESG policy for all our equity investments. Another requirement was that the costs should not be higher than with current products.“The risk of ESG selection is that too many preferences could result in the exclusion of too many sectors… The risk is that the fund may miss out on returns in the long run.“We want to invest according to ESG criteria, but not in that way. That is why we have chosen the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact as our tenets. They concern principles in the areas of human rights, working conditions, the environment and anti-corruption, that all 180 UN countries agreed on.”The UN Global Compact Principles, which have also been signed by many companies, have been translated into measurable criteria. BlackRock is one of the signatories.BlackRock has outsourced stock selection to the American-Swedish firm ISS Ethix, which monitors companies for violations of the UN Global Compact Principles.The original fund invests in around 360 out of 660 companies from the broad MSCI index for Europe excluding the UK. These companies are selected by BlackRock on the basis of quantitative analysis.“The fund has been outperforming the benchmark for years”, Van Gool said. “On average the return is one percentage point higher than the benchmark.”Back-testing of the ESG strategy showed there was “no significant difference”, Van Gool added. “Despite the ESG screening, the costs for the new fund remain the same, which the social partners consider of great importance.”For the time being, only a European ESG version of this fund has been launched. BlackRock is investigating how the same approach would affect the US strategy, Van Gool said, as there were likely to be more companies excluded. BlackRock has launched an environmental, social and governance (ESG) focused version of a semi-active European equity fund, at the request of Dutch pension fund SCA.The fund excludes companies that do not comply with the 10 UN Global Compact Principles.The €450m SCA pension fund has invested around €50m into the ESG fund. Another pension fund has joined in, but its name has not been revealed.SCA, the Dutch scheme of Swedish multinational firm Essity (which owns brand such as Tempo, Libresse, Tena and Cushelle), was already invested in European and US equities through BlackRock products. Most of the rest of its portflio is run by fiduciary manager MN.
People moves: Caisse des Dépôts appoints new head of pensions [updated]
KPS – Kring van Pensioenspecialisten, the Dutch society for pension industry professionals, has named Hedwig Peters as its new chairman. She took over from Tim Zuiderman at the end of January. She has been a board member of KPS for some time and has been treasurer since 2014. Peters has worked as a portfolio manager and fiduciary manager at various insurers and asset managers. At the moment, Peters is an independent director and has a supervisory role with various pension funds.Van Lanschot Kempen – Leni Boeren joined the executive board of the financial group on 5 February, with responsibility for asset management. She has also been named chair of the management of Kempen & Co. Boeren succeeds Paul Gerla, who recently resigned for medical reasons. She previously worked for Robeco and was chairman of DUFAS, the Dutch fund and asset management association. Boeren is currently a member of the supervisory board of Air France-KLM and Tata Steel Nederland.HSBC Global Asset Management – Sebastien Faucher has been hired as head of passive fixed income in the asset manager’s investment team, a newly created role. Faucher joins from Legal & General Investment Management, where he was head of index fixed income. From 2006 to 2008, Faucher was an investment manager at SSgA Global Fixed Income. Xafinity Punter Southall – The UK pensions consultancy has appointed Patrick McCoy as head of investment. He was previously head of investment advisory at KPMG, and before that spent 10 years at Aon. He will lead the firm’s investment consulting team and reports to Paul Cuff, co-CEO. McCoy left KPMG in early 2016 having been caught up in a tax scandal, but charges against him were dropped last year.Redington – The UK investment consultancy has hired Natalie Flood and Jonathan Parker for its defined contribution (DC) business. Flood joins from Willis Towers Watson, where she led successful projects with high profile DC schemes. Parker had been running his own consulting firm since 2016 but before that he held senior positions across the asset management, insurance and consulting industries. This included spells at Dimensional Fund Advisors, Barclays, Zurich Life and Willis Towers Watson. Redington launched its DC and savings consulting arm in 2015. Candriam – Tanja Bender is to join the asset manager in Frankfurt as senior client relationship manager and will help Candriam build its business with German distributors and institutional investors. Bender was most recently co-country head at Métropole Gestion, with responsibility for business developent for Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Before that she worked at Oppenheim Asset Management, Crédit Suisse Asset Management and Commerzbank. BlueBay Asset Management – Polina Kurdyavko is to be sole head of the specialist fixed income manager’s emerging market debt team, assuming the new role in July. She is currently co-head with David Dowsett, who will move away from day-to-day investing to become a strategic adviser on emerging markets for the firm. Kurdyavko joined BlueBay in July 2005 from UBS where she was a credit analyst. She started her career in a macro research boutique in Russia. Dowsett has been with BlueBay since 2002, having joined from Deutsche Asset Management. Asset Management One International – The international arm of the Asian asset manager has appointed Serge Kasai as executive director, head of relationship management and senior product manager for EMEA. He joined the firm in 2014 (then known as DIAM Co) as a global product specialist. He previously held positions at Nomura, Nippon Life Insurance Group, Nissay Information Technology in Tokyo and Nissay Deutsche Asset Management Europe in Singapore. Caisse des Dépôts, Aon Hewitt, KPS, Van Lanschot Kempen, HSBC GAM, Xafinity Punter Southall, Redington, Candriam, BlueBay, Asset Management OneCaisse des Dépôts – The French state-owned public-interest financial institution has appointed Michel Yahiel as director for the group’s pensions and social protection division, which administers 48 retirement schemes and “solidarity” funds covering 20% of retirees in France.A high-ranking civil servant, Yahiel was most recently a commissioner general at France Stratégie, a think tank attached to the prime minister’s office. Since 2012 he has been social adviser to the French president. Previous public roles have included being delegate general for the Association of French Regions from 2010 to 2012, and director of economic development and employment for Paris. Aon Hewitt Netherlands – Frank Driessen will take over as CEO of Aon Hewitt Netherlands from 1 April. At the moment Driessen is chief commercial officer and chief actuary at the firm. He has been in management positions at Aon since 2001 and previously worked at SPF Beheer and AkzoNobel. Driessen succeeds Pascal Hogenboom, who is leaving the company.
Views as far as Q1 from Daisy Hill home
The bathroom has a spa bath.He said there was no ideal buyer for the property, with everyone from families to developers potentially making the most of the 1328sq m block.“A family could live in it, or maybe someone that likes a project or wants to do it up,” Mr Apps said.“It’s quite a large block of land so a developer could see value in it, or maybe someone who likes the land and wants to build a mansion on it.” Mr Apps enjoys looking over the pool and to views beyond.Mr Apps said they had completed a full renovation of the pool, and he liked to spend time outside enjoying the views.“Just looking out around the pool and out to the views is great,” Mr Apps said. The room in the centre of the house has skylights.More from newsDigital inspection tool proves a property boon for REA website3 Apr 2020The Camira homestead where kids roamed free28 May 2019At the heart of the home is a room the Apps have used as a rumpus, enjoying the feature skylights.“We’ve got quite a large room in the middle of the house that has ceiling windows,” Mr Apps said.“We’ve got a pool table in there and it’s probably one of my favourite rooms.” The living room is at the rear of the home.Spread across a single level, the mint coloured home has four bedrooms, the master and second bedroom with ensuites. The home at 475 Springwood Rd, Daisy Hill, is up for sale.ON a clear day Queensland’s tallest building can be seen from the backyard of this Logan home.The views from the 475 Springwood Rd home is what sold it to Simon and Kathleen Apps, who bought it 18 years ago.“Every time someone comes to the front door, you open it and you can see straight through the house to the view,” Mr Apps said.“It looks straight out to Mt Tamborine, and on a good day you can see Q1 and Runaway Bay.“People who are seeing it for the first time think its spectacular.” The master suite is large.The couple have sinced moved to the country, enjoying a tree change. “My wife and I were raised on farms, so that’s the direction we wanted to go.” The floorplan of 475 Springwood Rd, Daisy Hill.Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 10:02Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -10:02 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels720p720pHD432p432p270p270p180p180pAutoA, selectedAudio Tracken (Main), selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenJune, 2018: Liz Tilley talks prestige property10:02
Construction on the Gold Coast’s Koko Broadbeach tower set to start this month
Construction is due to start on Morris Property Group’s Koko development at Broadbeach this month.CONSTRUCTION of Broadbeach’s newest residential apartment building will kick off this month.Koko Broadbeach, which is being developed by Morris Property Group, will tower 31 storeys above its beachside site at 12-14 Elizabeth Ave.Knight Frank head of project marketing Chris Litfin said demolishing the site’s existing building was the first step.“Demolition is about to take place,” he said.Renders of Morris Property Group’s Koko development at Broadbeach.Renders of Morris Property Group’s Koko development at Broadbeach.The proposed development has been on display in the existing building, which Mr Litfin said would be moved once construction started.“It’s a pop up display in the building next door,” he said.“We just need a location that’s near the site where people can pop in.“But the bulldozer is the best display you can have.”THE COAST’S CHEAPEST HOUSESDISPLAY HOME MORE MANSION-LIKE THAN HOUSESo far, Mr Litfin said 35 of the development’s 99 luxury apartments had sold.More from news02:37International architect Desmond Brooks selling luxury beach villa15 hours ago02:37Gold Coast property: Sovereign Islands mega mansion hits market with $16m price tag2 days ago“They’ve been going at basically one a week since the development (was launched),” he said.He said the steady flow of sales gave the developer confidence to push forward with construction.Renders of Morris Property Group’s Koko development at Broadbeach.Renders of Morris Property Group’s Koko development at Broadbeach.The development will include 94 two-bedroom apartments and five three-bedroom half-floor sub-penthouses.Prices start from $629,900.It will also have a range of residential facilities, including pool areas, including one for lap swimming, lounges, gym facilities, private outdoor entertainment areas and gardens.It will be a short walk to Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and Star Casino and is only 250m from the beach.The building is expected to be finished by late 2020.Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 1:58Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -1:58 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels720p720pHD576p576p360p360p216p216pAutoA, selectedAudio Tracken (Main), selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenWhy location is everything in real estate01:59
Travis Schultz’s property dreams revealed
More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus15 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market15 hours agoMy current home is in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast. It’s blessed with a magic northerly view and is walking distance to the township. Being set on 1.61ha, offers a delightful treescape and privacy such that you wouldn’t know that you were still living in suburbia. FIRST HOME Travis Schultz, principal of Travis Schultz Law at home in his wine cellar.Queenslanders love real estate and talking about their homes.High profile personal injury lawyer, Travis Schultz, principal of Travis Schultz Law with offices in Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, reveals his property dreams. My first home was at run down two storey renovator that was without doubt the worst house on the best street.It was a real stretch for me to buy a canal home at the time, but I knew I wanted to be on the water. CURRENT HOME RELATED: To describe it as being in a state of “disrepair” would be overly charitable to the dwelling. It had been tenanted and the pool could have been mistaken for a swamp. I felt as though I needed to update my tetanus shots before I walked in the front door! It was, however, a great location and the best I could afford at the time. DREAM QUEENSLAND HOME >>FOLLOW EMILY BLACK ON FACEBOOK<<
FANTASY HOME My dream home would probably be a shack somewhere right on the beachfront with a view of the water. Maybe somewhere in the Whitsundays? Ironman Matt Bevilacqua’s life at Broadbeach Waters If money was no object, I’d love nothing more than owning a chateau somewhere in Bordeaux or the Languedoc, but there’s probably a dozen places I’d like to locate my holiday home! Building new? Curves are on trend MORE: How to beat Brisbane’s median by $200k
Bulimba Queenslander catches attention of locals
More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus14 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market14 hours agoThe dining room looks out to the backyard.The two-level house has a classic Queenslander theme upstairs, with VJ walls, polished timber floorboards and picture rails, and downstairs is a more modern feel, with coffered ceilings and open-plan spaces.This combination is part of what drew Ms Matthews to the home in the first place.“I have owned three different places in Sydney, the last two were extremely modern … so this to me was a real contrast to have a bit of old world and a bit of new world,” Ms Matthews said. Upstairs are VJ walls and picture rails.Ms Matthews is relocating.“If I could pick up the house and take it — I would.”Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:51Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:51 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels720p720pHD576p576p432p432p270p270pAutoA, selectedAudio Tracken (Main), selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenStarting your hunt for a dream home00:51 There is an L-shaped plunge pool.Ms Matthews said the house had been perfect for when her three sons or her mother came to visit, but believes it would also be suited to a family.“It’s very family orientated,” she said.“It’s got a beautifully sized L-shaped plunge pool, and a huge open-plan family and kitchen area.“It’s also got a butler’s pantry which is really handy for when you don’t want clutter in view — you can just put it in the pantry and sort it out later.” Downstairs is a modern, open-plan living, dining and kitchen area.“Since I’ve moved in I’ve had three people that left letters in my mailbox asking what colour I had painted the house,” Ms Matthews said.“It’s a dark grey outside and it’s obviously a colour that attracts people.“I didn’t paint it so I didn’t know the colour but I found a spare tin of paint that was left behind that helped the people.” People wrote letters about the colour of the house.THIS Bulimba house was so eye catching that several people left letters in the mailbox about a particular aspect of it.Kerrie Matthews moved from Sydney and into the house two-and-a-half years ago and has since received several inquiries about the colour of the property.
Rates set to hit record low 0.75pc
CoreLogic chief economist Tim Lawless expected housing values to continue to recover, listings to grow and sales activity to trend higher.But he said, “credit availability remains the wildcard in a material bounce back in turnover”.“Although credit policies have become a little looser, gaining loan approval remains a challenge for many borrowers, despite the lowest mortgage rates since the 1950s.” FOLLOW SOPHIE FOSTER ON FACEBOOK The:RBA board monetary policy decision will be announced at 2.30pm AEST.CBA Economics expected the cut “because labour market slack is increasing” and because of currency issues.“Our previous research indicates AUD could jump by 0.4 per cent if the RBA does not cut,” a CBA Global Markets Research statement said. “We are wary of this risk given last week’s small spike in NZD following the RBNZ’s decision to keep the cash rate steady and deliver a neutral statement.”Financial markets were already pricing in a cut, with “the ASX 30 Day Interbank Cash Rate Futures October 2019 contract trading at 99.190, indicating a 78 per cent expectation of an interest rate decrease to 0.75 per cent”, according to the ASX Rate Indicator. Number of homes sold for profit set to rise MORE: New top sale notched for coast Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:58Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:58 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels720p720pHD432p432p216p216p180p180pAutoA, selectedAudio Tracken (Main), selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenHow much do I need to retire?00:58
House prices have begun rising across major capital cities Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane despite the slowest monthly credit growth on record.Latest housing credit figures showed growth was “the slowest in the history of the data set”, rising 0.2 per cent in August to 3.1 per cent higher over the year. Owner‑occupier credit was up by 0.3 per cent in August and 4.7 per cent for the past year, while investor credit went backwards for the second consecutive month, down 0.1 per cent/month.Final dwelling price index results for September were also due Tuesday, but the CoreLogic Daily Value Index was yesterday showing a 0.63 per cent rise for the quarter so far out of Brisbane, 3.39 per cent out of Sydney and 3.52 per cent for Melbourne, with the five capital city aggregate up 2.28 per cent in the quarter.More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus11 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market11 hours ago The fear is that if the RBA doesn’t cut rates Tuesday, the Aussie dollar could rise.The Reserve Bank is set to cut the official interest rate to a historic low 0.75 per cent Tuesday after data showing two cuts mid-year failed to spark a bounce and as house prices start to rise.Experts predict the RBA board will move on a 0.25 percentage point cut to the official cash rate target, pushed by weakening job market figures and to stave off any rises in the Australian dollar (AUD). Emotions run high as 1890s home sold
TV star Deborah Hutton helps couple score dream beach house in Byron Bay
The iconic Byron Bay lighthouse was a big drawcard. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.“I love the sound of the beach. This is like old Byron Bay. It’s the old true beach house,” he said.The two bedroom, two bathroom house they inspected had a spiral staircase, and room for major improvement, according to the couple.“I like having a beach in the backyard, I like being able to say that,” he said. “We’re going to be in this house a long time, our kids are going to grow up here.”Mrs Goldberg agreed: “It’s our forever home.”The couple were planning on rebuilding on the site.The price was $3.2m, which was $100,000 less than the Goldbergs expected it might cost.“To have a beach in your backyard, to me it’s priceless,” Mr Goldberg said. “I would like to rebuild. I think it’s about position and to have this, the sound, the beach, the beautiful lighthouse in the distance, this is Byron Bay for me. This is for a lifetime.” FOLLOW SOPHIE FOSTER ON FACEBOOK Michael and Jade Goldberg and their two children were set on finding a beach house in Byron Bay. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.It was billed as being a hunt in prestigious Byron Bay close to the Queensland-New South Wales border.The couple has sold their business which allowed them to live the dream and retire early.“They love travelling around Australia in their Winnebago camper van and Michael also rides motorbikes so an important consideration when looking for their dream beach house is enough space to accommodate the numerous vehicles.”Their wishlist was that their new home be a “coastal oasis with access to the beach” in Byron Bay.A builder by trade, Mr Goldberg was keen to enjoy early retirement, spending time watching the children grow. The huge first house. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.Ms Hutton, who hosts the show, took the couple to an enormous house first up: A six bedroom, four bathroom getaway, located 10 minutes from the beach.“You can hang out in the kitchen, you’ve got that area there, you can see the kids in the pool, and the beach is a five to six minute private walk away,” Ms Hutton told the couple.Mrs Goldberg was impressed: “What a way to start the day, surrounded by green, the sounds of the birds.”Priced well below their kitty at $3.4m, it was a big house that was relatively modern with views. Former Miss World Australia buys Brisbane investment Gabba project lures investors The second home was brand new. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.The second home was “brand new, contemporary luxury” with the couple the first ever to be given an inspection of the property.The four bedroom, two bathroom house was 11 minutes from heart of Byron Bay and also had beach access.Ms Hutton said “the level of detail in here is quite extraordinary” with American oak countertops, brass handles, a parents’ retreat, and media room.While Mrs Goldberg had visions of herself cooking and entertaining in the kitchen, her husband loved that the kids would have their own space for movie nights.“I’m scared to ask how much,” he said. “Looking at the workmanship and everything that’s been put in, $5-6m easy.”Ms Hutton said the property was $5.4m, about $400,000 over their budget but designed to give them an idea of what was possible in the area. The third property had two houses on it and ready for upgrade, but right on the beach. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.The third property was a surprise winner though: Two houses that were much smaller than the others and older and in need of renovation — but with a clear deal clincher, the beach in its backyard.“It’s all about surprises today,“ Ms Hutton said. “This parcel of land was tightly held for 20 years, two houses, one in front of the other, walk straight through there and you’re right on top of the beach.”More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus11 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market11 hours ago
Foxtel’s brand-new property series Find Me a Beach House sees host Deborah Hutton tasked with finding everyday Australians their perfect beach house. Picture: Supplied.A young family of four with a whopping budget got the property of their dreams after television star Deborah Hutton took them under her wing.The Goldberg family — Michael and Jade and their two children — were the big spenders with a $5 million budget in the third episode of the first season of TV show Find Me a Beach House, on Foxtel’s LifeStyle Channel. MORE: Spring swing underway in Brisbane Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:58Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:58 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels720p720pHD432p432p216p216p180p180pAutoA, selectedAudio Tracken (Main), selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenHow much do I need to retire?00:58 The front house was rented out and earning $50,000 a year.“You could rent it out, have two pavilions, crush it all start and again, it’s tightly held, these places do not come up often,” she told the pair.Mr Goldberg seemed sold already instantly by the sound of the water.
Why these owners love that their Gold Coast home is not the norm
Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:45Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:45 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels540p540p360p360p270p270pAutoA, selectedAudio Tracken (Main), selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenWhat is the new HomeBuilder scheme?00:46A RUSTY appearance with the walls and sliding wooden doors that have been torched to them to create a one-off look.This luxurious Southport house in Yacht St is not your typical Gold Coast residence and owners Donna and Mark Fuhrmann love that it is “a bit different”. There is something to see at every turn.“I don’t go looking for things, I just find things that will suit the space,” she said.More from news02:37International architect Desmond Brooks selling luxury beach villa7 hours ago02:37Gold Coast property: Sovereign Islands mega mansion hits market with $16m price tag1 day ago“I needed something that was going to stand up to lots of boys and still be appealing.“I don’t think it looks too masculine even though I do have a house full of men.”The backyard deck, complete with wine barrels and climbing vines, rates as the family’s favourite place to relax and entertain.“When I’m in the kitchen I can just hear them laughing or talking to their dad. It’s the happiest place to be out there,” she said. 18 Yacht St, Southport is not your average Gold Coast house. Inside the standout residence. Unwind on the back deck..“The light shade at the front door is made up of old barbed wire,” she said.“It sounds ridiculous but it’s a wire circle that someone made for me.“That will be a hard thing to leave as they made it and I love it.”Sliding timber doors are another quirky feature, having a distressed look. The doors were branded with a cattle stamp and were even burnt to create the one-off look.Brick wallpaper, pendants, fairy lights, hanging plants, industrial-style chandeliers and a concrete-look kitchen also bring the house to life. There’s plenty of space for the whole family here. “I like things that are not typical of everything around me,” Mrs Fuhrmann said.“As soon as you walk in you just want to sit and have a drink and have a look around.”The couple bought the property in 2016 and have enjoyed living there with their three sons – Tom, 20, Joe, 19, and Max, 18.When they first walked in, the house was “plain, shiny and very Gold Coast”, but over the past four and a half years Mrs Fuhrmann has put her own stamp on the property. “I could feel an element that was not so much industrial but a little bit rustic could come out of it,” Mrs Fuhrmann said.From the street, paint that gives a rustic look sets the tone but it is the attention to detail that really creates the atmosphere. The pool area.The property is on the market through an expressions of interest campaign by Cole Residential’s Nicole Bricknell and Ray White Prestige’s Robert Graham.“This is a fantastic six-bedroom home in the The Southport School (TSS) and Regatta Beach precinct,” Ms Bricknell said.“The home is designed for entertaining as the family often find their house full of boys on the weekend.”
France’s GTT nets LNG tanks order from Daewoo
For illustration purposes only (Image courtesy of GTT)France’s GTT said it had received an order from the Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering for the design of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks.The tanks will be installed onboard two new 173,400-cbm LNG carriers to be built by Daewoo’s shipyard in Geoje on behalf of an unnamed European shipowner, according to a GTT statement.The LNG carriers are scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2020.The vessels’ LNG tanks will be fitted with the NO96 GW technology, GTT added.The French company did not reveal the value of the deal.
OPITO to recognize safety leaders at annual awards ceremony
Global standards and workforce development organization OPITO will recognize the leaders in safety training and skills development within the oil and gas sector at this year’s OPITO Global Awards.OPITO said that the Global Awards would be held on November 7 during the organization’s annual safety and competency conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.The international event, which focuses entirely on safety and competency in the oil and gas industry, is expected to attract more than 400 delegates and 20 exhibitors.The organization is taking nominations across four categories in line with the 2018 conference theme, ‘Skilled for Safety.’ According to OPITO, the awards will honor individuals and companies committed to ensuring their workforce remains safe and competent for the globally recognized OPITO standards.The Leadership Award and the Emerging Leader Award will see people being recognized for inspiring others as well as developing programmes to improve safety and competency within their workplace.Businesses able to demonstrate their commitment to personal safety through training, people development and the use of OPITO standards can be entered into the Skilled for Safety Champion or Digital Champion categories.OPITO CEO, John McDonald, said: “Each year we look forward to seeing how the workforce and companies have approached their commitments to training personnel to the OPITO standards and hearing their stories of cultural change or increased safety targets being met, or often exceeded.“The annual OPITO Global Awards at our flagship international conference will provide an ideal platform to shine a light on the companies and individuals who best demonstrate these achievements, and crucially provide a chance for further discussion on how together, the energy industry can make safety practices consistently excellent wherever they are around the world.”The categories are open and the deadline for submitting entries is Friday, September 7.The OPITO Global event will see an additional technical forum available on November 8 as an optional subsequent day session.It is expected that around 150 delegates from OPITO’s global network of approved training companies, as well as industry practitioners, will attend the technical forum to discuss the details of delivering the high quality of standards that OPITO sets for the sector around the world.
Large-Scale Salvage Operation of MSC Zoe’s Fallen Containers Starts
The large-scale salvage operation of spilled containers from MSC’s ultra large containership, MSC Zoe, has officially begun with first vessels heading for the North Sea.Dutch public works and water management department Rijkswaterstaat said in the latest update that two large salvage vessels and one smaller one would be deployed to the operation.The first large ship arrived in IJmuiden, a port city located at the mouth of the North Sea Canal, on Thursday morning, January 10, and is expected to go to the area today. The smaller ship is also on the way, according to Rijkswaterstaat.Under the salvage plan, the priority is to make the Ems river mouth, near the German coast, fully available for shipping. The next step would be recovery of containers from the navigation channel north of the Dutch Wadden Islands. As informed, a second large ship is scheduled to join the operation over the weekend weather permitting.So far, seven containers have been salvaged, and over 40 are yet to be located.Meanwhile, sonar-equipped vessels from Dutch maritime authorities and Ardent, the salvage company, hired by MSC, continue searching for the missing containers. Rijkswaterstaat said it was in charge of determining the priorities under which the salvage of the containers takes place, taking into account ecological and safety factors.A total of 291 containers were thrown overboard by bad weather from MSC Zoe on January 2, according to the latest deck inspection data.Overall, relevant authorities and MSC have located 238 containers, with the majority being spread over a length of 23 miles above the Dutch municipalities Terschelling, Schiermonnikoog and east of this line.Work on collecting the washed up debris from spilled containers across German and Dutch beaches remains underway. A total 1,220 metric tons of debris have been collected since the incident, according to MSC.World Maritime News Staff
Aker BP hits pay in North Sea well
Norwegian oil company Aker BP has made an oil and gas discovery northwest of the Bøyla field in the North Sea offshore Norway. Scarabeo 8 drilling rig; Author: SP MacAker BP, the operator of production license 869, has concluded the drilling of wildcat well 24/9-14 S and a horizontal appraisal well, 24/9-14 A in the Froskelår Main prospect, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) said on Tuesday.Appraisal well 24/9-14 A was drilled 2650 meters northeast of wildcat well 24/9-14 S. The wells were drilled about 4 kilometers northwest of the Bøyla field and 225 kilometers west of Stavanger.The objective of wildcat well 24/9-14 S was to prove petroleum and the reservoir potential in reservoir rocks (injectites) in the Eocene (Intra Hordaland group sandstones). The objective of well 24/9-14 A was to investigate the lateral extent, as well as the reservoir potential of the injectites.Wildcat well 24/9-14 S encountered a total gas column of 30 meters, and a total oil column of 38 meters in the Hordaland group in sandstone layers (injectites) totaling 35 meters, mainly with very good to excellent reservoir properties. The sandstones are interpreted as being remobilised sand from the Heimdal and Hermod formations in the Palaeocene which are injected into the overlying Hordaland group. The gas/oil contact was observed in the well. The oil/water contact was not observed, as the logs showed oil down to the situation.Appraisal well 24/9-14 A, which was drilled horizontally, encountered several gas-bearing and oil-bearing injectite zones totalling 540 meters, with many sandstone layers with variable reservoir properties, mainly from good up to excellent. Here too, the sandstone layers are interpreted as being injected sands in the Hordaland group with variable quality and thickness. The gas/oil and oil/water contacts are as in the wildcat well. According to the NPD, preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between 10 and 21 million standard cubic meters (Sm3) of recoverable oil equivalents. The nearby 24/9-3 (Gamma) oil discovery can be viewed as being a part of this discovery. Part of the discovery may extend over to the UK sector. The licensees will consider tying the discovery into existing infrastructure in the Alvheim area.The wells were not formation-tested, but extensive volumes of data have been acquired and samples have been taken. These are the first and second exploration wells in production license 869, which was awarded in APA 2016.The 24/9-14 S well was drilled to respective vertical and measured depths of 2097 and 2252 meters below sea level, and was terminated in the Sele formation in the Palaeocene. The 24/9-14 A well was drilled horizontally in the Hordaland group in the Eocene to respective vertical and measured depths of 1847 and 4398 meters below sea level.Water depth at the site is 120 meters. The wells have been permanently plugged and abandoned.The wells 24/9-14 S and 24/9-14 A were drilled by the Saipem-owned Scarabeo 8 drilling rig, which will now drill a combined wildcat and test production well, 24/9-15 S, in production license 340, where Aker BP is the operator.Evy Glørstad-Clark, SVP Exploration in Aker BP, commented: “The exploration success at Froskelår Main is an encouraging result of a long -term strategy to unlock the exploration potential in the Alvheim area. This strategy has involved extensive data acquisition and detailed technical analysis.“In parallel, we have been expanding our acreage position in the area through licensing rounds and business development activities. The Froskelår Main discovery represents a significant addition to the resource base in the Alvheim area. The discovery also illustrates the significant resource potential yet to be uncovered on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.” Tying into existing infrastructure 
New Fortress Energy breaks ground for San Juan micro fuel-handling facility
New York City-based New Fortress Energy (NFE) has held a groundbreaking ceremony for a micro fuel-handling facility in San Juan.The micro fuel-handling facility, which has been under development for more than a year, will provide natural gas to the San Juan power plant.The facility will also conduct truck loading operations that will deliver LNG to industrial companies and microgrids, New Fortress Energy said in a brief statement through its social media.To remind, New Fortress Energy’s Puerto Rico unit NFEnergía signed a deal with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) for the supply of natural gas and conversion of Units 5 and 6 of the San Juan power plant earlier this month.PREPA estimates that the conversion of these units from diesel to natural gas will generate an estimated $750 million in fuel cost savings over five years for PREPA and significantly reduce emissions.The conversion of San Juan Units 5 and 6 and the development of the micro fuel handling facility are anticipated to be complete by mid-2019.
Highlights of the Week
Subsea World News has put together a recap of the most interesting articles from the previous week (April 15 – April 21). 50Hertz Connects Arkona and Wikinger to Its Transmission Grid Nord Stream 2 Submits New Application in Denmark Vallourec to Support TechnipFMC on Mero 1
Vattenfall Taps Seaway 7 for Hollandse Kust Zuid Job Tennet Makes Borssele Cable Touchdown
GLDD Back in Action at Virginia Beach
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock LLC has restarted sand-placement operations along the Virginia Beach oceanfront.According to the Army Corps’ Norfolk District, the contractor is pumping sand at 57th Street with construction advancing north toward 70th Street.USACE also added that this week, 57th to 65th streets are scheduled for construction.Upon completion of the northernmost location, operations are slated to flip and proceed south, converging with the currently renourished beach at 49th Street.During the Virginia Beach Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project, GLDD will place around 1.4 million cubic yards of sand on the beach, widening and raising it to 9 feet above sea-level.Virginia Beach’s hurricane and storm-damage reduction system was originally completed in 2001, and this is the second beach-replenishment contract since initial construction.The first occurred in 2012, when crews placed 1.25 million cubic yards of sand on the beach.
Gay marriage given the green light for weddings in churches
The Telegraph 7 December 2012 Gay couples would be allowed to marry in churches under plans due to be unveiled by the Government next week.The decision represents a major u-turn on the position set out in a formal Government consultation earlier this year which proposed a blanket ban.It raises the prospect of a major battle between church and state over the issue as well as a massive backbench rebellion with at least 130 Conservatives set to vote against the proposals.The plans will be announced by the Culture Secretary Maria Miller next week and a detailed bill is expected to be put before Parliament next month.That could see the redefinition of marriage sped through the Commons before the summer.The shift in policy came after Government lawyers came up with plans for “multiple lock” legal protections for churches, mosques and synagogues which do not want to marry gay couples on grounds of belief.David Cameron said: “I’m a massive supporter of marriage and I don’t want gay people to be excluded from a great institution.”But let me be absolutely one hundred per cent clear, if there is any church or any synagogue or any mosque that doesn’t want to have a gay marriage it will not, absolutely must not, be forced to hold it.”That is absolutely clear in the legislation.“Also let me make clear, this is a free vote for Members of Parliament but personally I will be supporting it.”Opponents believe that no safeguard will be able to protect them from a legal challenge at the European Court of Human Rights, which would force them to marry gay couples.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9729773/Gay-marriage-given-the-green-light-for-weddings-in-churches.html
Parties would change three-strikes law
Stuff.co.nz 1 May 2013Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party all say they would repeal or alter the three-strikes legislation after the issuing of a second strike to Hastings man Elijah Whaanga. Whaanga, 21, was sentenced to two years’ jail and issued with his second strike by Judge Tony Adeane in the Napier District Court on April 18 after pleading guilty to two charges of aggravated robbery. The offences involved Whaanga and an accomplice attacking victims on two occasions last August. In one, Whaanga took a skateboard, hat and cigarette lighter from the victim after trying unsuccessfully to remove the victim’s jacket. The second involved Whaanga kicking the victim in his leg and taking his hat and cellphone. Aggravated robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ prison, can involve a robbery that causes the victim grievous bodily harm, robbery while armed with an offensive weapon, or robbery with an accomplice. Whaanga, who now has 20 convictions as an adult, was given his first strike in 2010 for a violent aggravated robbery for which he was jointly charged. He must now serve his sentence of two years without parole. If he is issued with a third strike, a judge must impose the maximum penalty without parole unless the court believes that would be manifestly unjust.http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8616330/Parties-would-change-three-strikes-law
Miley Cyrus and the ‘pornification’ of America
John W Whitehead – The Rutherford Institute“In a market that sells high heels for babies and thongs for tweens, it doesn’t take a genius to see that sex, if not porn, has invaded our lives. Whether we welcome it or not, television brings it into our living rooms and the Web brings it into our bedrooms.” – Jessica Bennett, “The Pornification of a Generation” There’s a strange irony to the fact that on the same week of the 93rd anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a milestone achievement for the women’s suffrage movement which resulted in women finally being able to vote, the headlines are dominated by the antics of pop star Miley Cyrus, who used this year’s MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) as a forum for twerking, gyrating, stripping and other sexually defiant acts. Curiously enough, apart from concerns about Cyrus’ questionable taste in dance moves, no one else seems to find this convergence the least bit jarring or incongruent. Welcome to the pornification of American culture, served up MTV-style.….One reporter noted that 20-year-old Cyrus’ performance at the Video Music Awards, which started with the former Disney teen idol doing a burlesque routine with oversized teddy bears and ended with her using a foam finger to imitate having sex with herself and the audience, “left Gaga in the dust with her gratuitous show of both skin and gesturing this year.” It’s a sorry coming-of-age declaration from a girl who, for most of her life, has been America’s little darling, the star of Disney’s Hannah Montana and a self-avowed Christian who reportedly wore a purity ring as a testament to her virginity.…”Pop culture and porn culture have become part of the same seamless continuum,” explains theatre historian and University of Illinois professor Mardia Bishop. “As these images become pervasive in popular culture, they become normalized… and… accepted.” This foray into porn culture – the increasing acceptability and pervasiveness of sexualized imagery in mainstream media – is where pop culture takes a dark turn.http://mychristiandaily.com/index.php/feature/7442-miley-cyrus-and-the-pornification-of-america
First wedding in Cardboard Cathedral
Stuff.co.nz 11 November 2013After a five-year engagement and months of busking to raise funds, a Lyttelton couple have become the first to be wed in the Transitional Cathedral.Jill Jefferies and James Dobinson, who both have Down syndrome, married on Saturday before about 100 well-wishers, family and friends. The couple had busked at the Lyttelton Farmers Market to raise money for the wedding, with Dobinson playing keyboard while Jefferies danced.Mother-of-the-bride Margaret Jefferies said the busking money was a nice bonus with family, friends and the Lyttelton Time Bank all playing roles in helping create the couple’s wedding.“For them, it’s a pinnacle of what they have always wanted to do,” she said. “It went really well. I’m thrilled.”Jefferies said her daughter met Dobinson about eight years ago when they became flatmates. Love blossomed.For the past five years the couple had lived by themselves.http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/weddings/9385941/First-wedding-in-Cardboard-Cathedral
Single parent kids suffer more health issues – study
NZ Herald 28 April 2015Children who live with just one parent after a family break-up suffer from more problems such as headaches, stomach aches, feelings of tension and sadness than those whose parents share custody, research has found.A study carried out in Sweden compared how children were affected by living with both parents, only one parent, mostly one parent, or by dividing their time between both in joint custody – and found that children in the latter category suffered from fewer psychosomatic problems than those living mostly or only with one parent.Youngsters living with both parents in a nuclear family set-up had the lowest score of all on the Psychosomatic Problems scale – which also measured issues such as children’s concentration, difficulties with sleeping, dizziness and loss of appetite.The proportion of children who said they “often” or “always” had the different symptoms assessed on the scale was highest among those who lived with just one parent.Overall, girls reported more psychosomatic problems than boys.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=11439880
Deaths among young an unintended consequence of euthanasia movement: mother
Sydney Morning Herald 13 July 2015Twenty-six-year-old Lucas Taylor took his own life by taking Nembutal more than three years ago, but he still gets Exit International’s email newsletter.After his death in 2012 his mother Judith went through his emails looking for answers and found he had been a paid up member of the organisation.Mrs Taylor said he used knowledge gained on Exit International’s forums to obtain the drug from Peru. He was not suffering from a terminal illness – although Mrs Taylor said he may have believed he was ill – and later used the drug to take his own life in Germany.She said the deaths among younger people were an “unintended consequence” of the voluntary euthanasia movement putting out information online on suicide methods.“Coroners and authorities should be sitting up taking notice of this,” she said of the data on the number of deaths from Nembutal. “This is an international business.”New data from the national coronial information system shows 120 people died by taking Nembutal – dubbed the “peaceful pill” – between July 2000 and December 2012.http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/deaths-among-young-an-unintended-consequence-of-euthenasia-movement-mother-20150713-gia7e5
5 reasons marijuana is not medicine
The drug’s chemistry must be known and reproducible. Evidence of a standardized product, consistency, ultra-high purity, fixed dose and a measured shelf life are required by the FDA. The chemistry of “dispensary marijuana” is not standardized. Smoked, vaporized or ingested marijuana may deliver inconsistent amounts of active chemicals. Levels of the main psychoactive constituent, THC, can vary from 1 to 80 percent. Cannabidiol (known as CBD) produces effects opposite to THC, yet THC-to-CBD ratios are unregulated. There must be adequate safety studies. “Dispensary marijuana” cannot be studied or used safely under medical supervision if the substance is not standardized. And while clinical research on long-term side effects has not been reported, drawing from recreational users we know that marijuana impairs or degrades brain function, and intoxicating levels interfere with learning, memory, cognition and driving. Long-term use is associated with addiction to marijuana or other drugs, loss of motivation, reduced IQ, psychosis, anxiety, excessive vomiting, sleep problems and reduced lifespan. Without a standardized product and long-term studies, the safety of indefinite use of marijuana remains unknown. There must be adequate and well-controlled studies proving efficacy. Twelve meta-analyses of clinical trials scrutinizing smoked marijuana and cannabinoids conclude that there is no or insufficient evidence for the use of smoked marijuana for specific medical conditions. There are no studies of raw marijuana that include high-quality, unbiased, blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled or long-duration trials. The drug must be accepted by well-qualified experts. Medical associations generally call for more cannabinoid research but do not endorse smoked marijuana as a medicine. The American Medical Association: “Cannabis is a dangerous drug and as such is a public health concern”; the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: “Medicalization” of smoked marijuana has distorted the perception of the known risks and purposed benefits of this drug;” the American Psychiatric Association: “No current scientific evidence that marijuana is in any way beneficial for treatment of any psychiatric disorder … the approval process should go through the FDA.”Scientific evidence must be widely available. The evidence for approval of medical conditions in state ballot and legislative initiatives did not conform to rigorous, objective clinical trials nor was it widely available for scrutiny.Marijuana fails to meet any of these five criteria for accepted medical use in the United States. At present, it belongs in Schedule I.Is Schedule I drug a roadblock to marijuana research? Not really. The major roadblock to five proposed studies at the California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research was not the Schedule I label, but the scarcity of patients willing to enroll in five major clinical trials. The process for marijuana research could be streamlined by Drug Enforcement Administration oversight and expansion of marijuana production, and a special sub-category of Schedule I could further reduce paperwork. But moving marijuana to Schedule II “to promote research” is conceivably unethical, as marijuana would then be designated a safe and effective medicine in the absence of high-quality evidence.Should we dismiss heartfelt appeals from people suffering various diseases, knowing that a host of chronic, debilitating ailments are inadequately managed? Human stories should not be ignored, and rigorous, creative solutions can be formulated in response. However, the “marijuana mess” and its “new realities” were created not by the federal government but by political processes designed to circumvent the FDA, the only federal agency that safeguards our nation’s medicines. If the more than $100 million spent on ballot and legislative initiatives instead had been used for quality clinical trials, our nation would know much more about the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids. Instead, “dispensary marijuana” is evolving into a human experiment without informed consent.We revere the brain more than other body part because it is the repository of our humanity. When a brain disease strikes, it can fundamentally transform an individual. We schedule and restrict psychoactive drugs because they can negatively affect the human brain and behavior. Of brain diseases, substance use disorders are among the most lamentable forms of human anguish. They are also among the most preventable.https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-theory/wp/2016/04/29/5-reasons-marijuana-is-not-medicine/ Washington Post 29 April 2016Family First Comment: A very interesting point – “If the more than $100 million spent on ballot and legislative initiatives instead had been used for quality clinical trials, our nation would know much more about the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids. Instead, “dispensary marijuana” is evolving into a human experiment without informed consent.”Yes, political pressure has replaced common sense and solid research on the marijuana issue.Data from 2015 indicate that 30 percent of current cannabis users harbor a use disorder — more Americans are dependent on cannabis than on any other illicit drug. Yet marijuana advocates have relentlessly pressured the federal government to shift marijuana from Schedule I — the most restrictive category of drug — to another schedule or to de-schedule it completely. Their rationale? “States have already approved medical marijuana”; “rescheduling will open the floodgates for research”; and “many people claim that marijuana alone alleviates their symptoms.”Yet unlike drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, “dispensary marijuana” has no quality control, no standardized composition or dosage for specific medical conditions. It has no prescribing information or no high-quality studies of effectiveness or long-term safety. While the FDA is not averse to approving cannabinoids as medicines and has approved two cannabinoid medications, the decision to keep marijuana in Schedule I was reaffirmed in a 2015 federal court ruling. That ruling was correct.To reside in Schedules II-V and be approved for diagnosing, mitigating, treating or curing a specific medical condition, a substance or botanical must proceed through a rigorous FDA scientific process proving safety and efficacy. Not one form of “dispensary marijuana” with a wide range of THC levels — butane hash oil, smokables, vapors, edibles, liquids — has gone through this rigorous process for a single medical condition (let alone 20 to 40 conditions).To approve a medicine, the FDA requires five criteria to be fulfilled:
Think cannabis is harmless? So did I. But I know better now
National Post 30 January 2019Family First Comment: ..On a typical Saturday night, two friends and I were cooking dinner. A friend offered me half a medical marijuana gummy. She took the other half. About 45 minutes later, I started to feel strange. It’s hard to explain how. I had had bad experiences with weed before. This felt similar; like I knew something very bad was about to happen. I decided to go home. I, still, to this day, don’t know what actually happened that night and what didn’t. I was totally disconnected from reality. I was hallucinating, dreaming while awake. Welcome to a weed overdose, friends — a drug-induced psychosis….I’m telling this story because I think it’s important for people to realize that although cannabis has a reputation as being safe and benign, that’s not always the case. As my psychiatrist likes to remind me: people’s minds and bodies are different, and have varying reactions to drugs, to alcohol, to stress.Last year, shortly before cannabis was legalized, StarMetro Vancouver reported that in 2017, 567 people were admitted to emergency rooms at St. Paul’s, Vancouver General, Surrey Memorial and Kelowna General hospitals for cannabis overdoses or related mental and behavioural issues.I was one of them.This isn’t easy to write about. I’m well aware that this will be part of my story forever, for anyone to look up online. Still, people need to know the risks.In mid-2017, on a typical Saturday night, two friends and I were cooking dinner. A friend offered me half a medical marijuana gummy. She took the other half. About 45 minutes later, I started to feel strange. It’s hard to explain how. I had had bad experiences with weed before. This felt similar; like I knew something very bad was about to happen.I decided to go home. I, still, to this day, don’t know what actually happened that night and what didn’t. I was totally disconnected from reality. I was hallucinating, dreaming while awake. Welcome to a weed overdose, friends — a drug-induced psychosis.I remember walking down the street, not being able to swallow. Falling down. Laying face-first on Robson Street in downtown Vancouver yelling at people driving and walking by that I was dying. I remember the paramedics kicking me out of the ambulance. I remember dead people being wheeled past me in the emergency room at St. Paul’s. But I’m not entirely sure if any of these things happened.READ MORE: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/opinion-think-cannabis-is-harmless-i-used-to-too-i-know-better-now
Woman confronts ‘Dr Death’ at Perth euthanasia forum
9 News 13 August 2019Family First Comment: Her father was in his 60s when he took his life two years ago, after seeking advice from Mr Nitschke’s Exit International group that advocates legalising voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide. She said her father was suffering from depression, but he had no terminal illness.“Apologise for what happened to my father,” she said. “The information you put out kills people who are not in a rational state of mind to make that decision… There are young people who have died, people with depression. It’s wrong, it’s totally irresponsible, he’s a doctor, it’s wrong.” Known only as Candice, the woman then walked to the front of the forum and confronted Mr Nitschke up close. Backers of the man dubbed Dr Death, converged on the woman and demanded she leave. “Apologise for what happened to my father,” she said. “The information you put out kills people who are not in a rational state of mind to make that decision.” She said her father was suffering from depression, but he had no terminal illness.READ MORE: https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-news-woman-confronts-euthanasia-advocate-philip-nitschke-dr-death/0b6919cf-4f7d-4234-956b-86bc0c208097
A pro-euthanasia forum in Perth has turned ugly after a young woman tried to direct questions to controversial former doctor Philip Nitschke. “There are young people who have died, people with depression,” she argued back. “It’s wrong, it’s totally irresponsible, he’s a doctor, it’s wrong.” Candice then explained to the media that her father was in his 60s when he took his life two years ago, after seeking advice from Mr Nitschke’s Exit International group that advocates legalising voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Suicide rates in Europe ‘linked’ to financial crisis
Share Tweet Share HealthLifestyle Suicide rates in Europe ‘linked’ to financial crisis by: – July 8, 2011 By Nick TriggleHealth correspondent, BBC NewsExperts looked at suicide problems in 10 European countriesThe financial crisis “almost certainly” led to an increase in suicides across Europe, health experts say.The analysis by US and UK researchers found a rise in suicides was recorded among working age people from 2007 to 2009 in nine of the 10 nations studied.The increases varied between 5% and 17% for under 65s after a period of falling suicide rates, The Lancet reported.Researchers said investment in welfare systems was the key to keeping rates down.In particular, they argued supporting people back into work or having programmes to stop them losing their jobs in the first place was more important than giving them benefits.The team used World Health Organization data to compare rates in the 10 countries, including the UK.‘Complete turnaround’During the period, there was a rise in unemployment by a third.Only Austria saw suicide rates fall. This was put down to the country being less exposed to the financial crisis than the others.Of the risers, Finland fared best while Greece had the worst record. The UK saw a rise of 10% to 6.75 suicides per 100,000 people.Dr David Stuckler, one of the researchers, said: “There was a complete turnaround. Suicides were falling before the recession, then started rising in nearly all European countries studied. Almost certainly these rises are linked to the financial crisis.”And he added it was also possible there would be other health consequences from the economic problems as the impact on heart disease and cancer rates was not likely to be seen for many years.‘Major risk factors’However, the researchers also found that road deaths fell during the period – a trend which was put down to the falls in vehicle use that tend to be seen during difficult economic times.The report comes after a BBC investigation earlier this year found there had been a rise in anti-depressant prescribing during the financial crisis.Prescriptions for drugs such as Prozac rose by more than 40% over the past four years with GPs saying more and more people were coming to them with money worries.Andy Bell, deputy chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, said: “We know that unemployment and the fear of unemployment are major risk factors for poor mental health.“This research shows how important it is that we treat the mental health of people who are not just out of work but also in work but fear losing their jobs as a major public health issue”.
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Dominican Students in China Advised to Stay Put
Sharing is caring! CoronavirusInternationalLifestyleLocalNews Dominican Students in China Advised to Stay Put by: – January 30, 2020 85 Views no discussions Tweet Share
Share Share The Ministry of Health is assuring the nation that Dominican students in China are safe and have been advised to remain there for their continued safety.This decision, according t0 Honorable Minister for Health and Wellness, Dr. Irving McIntyre appears to be the “safest” to prevent the potential spread of the coronavirus.Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, the viruses cause respiratory infections which are typically mild including the common cold but rarer forms like SARS and MERS can be lethal.He told the press on Wednesday that students are cooperative and in good spirits.“Since the outbreak everyone has been advised to wear face masks and as a result there has been a shortage. All nationals are safe and because there is 14-day incubation period…it is not advisable for anyone to leave Wuhan at the moment,” he reported.The ministry says emergency funds were sent to students to purchase water and supplies.Eighty-four Dominicans are pursuing studies in China, 15 of which are based in Wuhan- the epicenter of the outbreak.While there has not yet been any case of the virus among Dominican students, there is also a 14-day incubation period.The Minister assures that there is daily communication between students and the Ministry of Education.Dr McIntyre gave reasons for advising the students to stay in China.“There must be a receiving country- the USA, France, Germany, London Holland- to put these students through quarantine, second, a special charter with the nationals departing China under international travel guidelines for prevention and control, and thirdly, assuming there are nationals who may test positive, that receiving country must have the infrastructure to deal with the cure or treatment of the virus.”He also added, “This can be a very costly exercise.”Dr McIntyre continues to assure however that “All nationals are safe” and that the Dominican students are “in good spirits, and fully understand the risk of leaving. The have been very vigilant. There is no need to panic.”The ministries of health, education and tourism were a part of Wednesday’s event.He says the Government of the People’s Republic of China has given every assurance that “this pandemic will be brought under control in a few weeks.”The Ministry of Heath is currently discussing the possibility of sending additional masks, especially for Dominican students in Wuhan as face masks must be changed frequently after use.
Libya: Coalition launches attacks
Share News Libya: Coalition launches attacks by: – March 19, 2011 The UK, the US and France have begun attacking Libya as enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone gets under way.UK Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that British planes are in action over Libya.French planes flew reconnaissance missions and destroyed Libyan vehicles earlier on Saturday.US media say the US has fired Cruise missiles on Libya from a warship.Western planes bombed targets in the capital, Tripoli, said the AFP news agency, quoting witnesses and state TV.A British submarine has fired a number of missiles at Libyan air defence targets, the Ministry of Defence said.Prime Minister David Cameron said that launching military action against Libya was “necessary, legal and right”.Libyan state TV reported that what it called the “crusader enemy” had bombed civilian areas of Tripoli, as well as fuel storage tanks supplying the western city of Misrata.Sources in Tripoli told BBC Arabic that the attacks on the city had so far targeted the eastern areas of Sawani, Airport Road, and Ghasheer. These are all areas believed to host military bases.Source: BBC News Tweet Sharing is caring!
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Manhunt for 2 missing Yampiece residents continues
Leon “Dopie” JosephThe Dominica Police Force is continuing their search for two young men who were abducted on Saturday 10th March, 2012 in Yampiece, Stockfarm.Leon “Dopie” Joseph and Deon Hakim Alfred were last seen about 9pm on Saturday 10th March, 2012 and reported to the Criminal Investigations Department as missing by their relatives on Sunday 11th March, 2012.According to a release issued by the police, the men were last seen boarding vehicle registration # PS 295 at YamPiece on Saturday.Joseph was last seen wearing “a black short pant with white and brown horizontal and vertical lines, a black windbreaker coat and a pair of black and white Nike slippers,” while Alfred was last seen wearing “a black hooded long sleeve shirt and a pair of short blue Jeans pants”.Meanwhile three men are assisting the police with their investigations.Description of Leon “Dopie” JosephSex: MaleNationality: DominicanAge: 28 years (D.O.B.: 9th February 1984)Complexion: FairHeight: 5ft 5insBuild: AverageHair: BlackEyebrow: BushyForehead: RecedingNose: BulbousFace: OvalMouth:NormalLips: NormalChin: RoundDeon Hakim Alfred Description of Deon Hakim Alfred Sex: MaleNationality: DominicanAge: 20 years (D.O.B.: 2nd March 1992)Complexion: FairHeight: 5ft 4insBuild: AverageHair:Plaits (Black)Eyebrow: BushyForehead: RoundNose: FlaringFace:RoundMouth: NormalLips: ThickChin: RoundThe police is urging the public to assist them with any information relating to the whereabouts of the missing persons.Police wants anyone with information to contact the Criminal Investigations Department or the nearest police station immediately.Dominica Vibes News will continue to follow this story and bring you developments as they occur.Dominica Vibes News LocalNews Manhunt for 2 missing Yampiece residents continues by: – March 16, 2012 Share Share Tweet
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Remembering Mike Douglas
Share Share 46 Views no discussions Photo credit: thedominican.netA man known for his scintillating oratory, rescuing Ross University, rebuilding the Labour Party and championing the struggles of the poor and downtrodden.The milestone of the 20th anniversary of his death (April, 30th 2012), is an opportunity to reflect on the life of Mike Douglas, a man who will long be remembered for his scintillating oratory; his role in rescuing Ross University; his struggles for the poor and downtrodden and his mission to revitalize the forces of Labour following the Freedom party landslide of 1980. Mike was a faithful son, father and national hero. His efforts would have gone nowhere, but for the rock solid love and nurturing of his wife, Olive “Nurse” Douglas who served the poor and the sick with great compassion and skill, while her husband exercised a brand of mesmerizing political wizardry. Though political life can be bruising on any family construct, he loved all his children and gave them the best he had: an example of a Dominican patriot.Mike Douglas was the most brilliant debater of his generation. The book In Search of Eden by Gabriel Christian and Irvin Andre sums it up best: “Mike’s oratory exuded the persuasive logic of [his father] R.B. Douglas; the irrepressible wit of John Showline; the bravado of A.B. Hector; the assertiveness of John Royer and the nonchalance of Isaiah John.” His superb oratory was most in evidence in parliament during the 1980-85 period when -singlehandedly and fearlessly – he took the fight to the Freedom Party Government when the Labour party was at its weakest. Mike was also a brilliant platform speaker. His presentations combined serious issues with humour in English and Creole. In the campaign for the 1975 General Election, Mike taunted the opposition: “We shall confound their politics, frustrate their dirty tricks and give them endless licks.” Mike served with distinction in cabinet, promoting the sale of Dominica’s citrus to the UK, with his “Grapefruit the Great Fruit” campaign. A graduate in production engineering during his sojourn in the UK, and a competent technocrat, his stints in the Ministries of Agriculture, Communications and Works and Finance were well regarded. Following his dismissal as a Minister in the Patrick John Government in 1978, he held 40 meetings across Dominica where he exposed the corrupt and dishonest activities of the Patrick John/Leo Austin dictatorship and the lack of democracy within the Labour Party and cabinet. Mike was also at the forefront of the campaign to force the John Government to cancel the Free Port Agreement, an arrangement that wouldhave created a state within a state with the investors having their own police force, port facilities and utility arrangements. Having served with honour in the Royal Air Force in trouble spots such as Cyprus and Aden, he brought his wisdom to the table during the tumult following the bloody events of May 29, 1979. His stalwart support for a constitutional settlement to the crisis via the Committee of National Salvation ensured that the rule of law, not brute force, became the mark of governance in Dominica. His diplomacy after that divisive crisis was such that he was able to weld the Dominican left into the fold of the old Labour Party. He championed the struggles of the working class of Dominica and was on the side of banana famers, lighter men, women banana carriers, students, the homeless and the unemployed. He continued the relationship with Cuba, started by the Popular Independence Committees of Rosie Douglas, and so allowed for the scholarship programme with that country to flourish.Though an opponent of the Freedom Party administration of Eugenia Charles, he urged the disclosure by AlgieMaffie of the 1981 Operation Red Dog mercenary plot. That scheme to invade Dominica and topple the island’s government by US Nazi Party and KKK sympathizers was thwarted. But for the wise intervention of Mike, Rosie and Maffie, many Dominicans would have lost their lives.Championing the vision of a reconstituted Dominica Labour Party from the mid-1980s, Mike diligently laid the structure for a disciplined party with a strong focus on good governance and transparency. He believed that Dominicans should control the natural resources of the state; that every Dominican should own a piece of the “rock.” In his last interview, though stricken with cancer, he called on Dominicans with these words: “Pa quitayyoporDomnikhodnou!“[Don’t let them take Dominica from us]. The Labour Party’s present constitution which describes the Labour party as a Democratic Socialist organization was largely the work of Mike. He identified a committed team of players who worked tirelessly towards the eventual goal of victory at the polls, achieved finally in January, 2000. Mike unambiguously outlined the foreign policy position of the Labour party. At the party’s convention in 1986 he quoted from his party’s constitution which states that the party will “follow an independent policy of non-alignment and resist becoming a satellite of other nations.” Referring to the United States, Britain, Cuba and the Soviet Union, Mike concluded: “But we shall not become a toy of any one of them or a puppet of anyone of them.”Mike passionately believed that every Dominican, irrespective of their background should be given the opportunity to succeed and promoted the socio-economic fairness concept “All Shall Eat”. In an address to labourities at Portsmouth in 1986, he said: “Not some shall eat but ‘All Shall Eat’.”Though he lost two general elections as leader of the Labour party, in 1985 and 1990, in the town of Portsmouth, Mike was unbeatable. He first won the Portsmouth seat in the March 1975 General Elections. He famously beat Charles Savarin in three consecutive general elections with increased majorities at each election. It was Mike Douglas who very early saw the economic potential of Ross University. He rescued the struggling institution at Castaways and persuaded Robert Ross to move the School to Portsmouth. Leading figures in the Freedom Party Government including the Minister for Health and senior medical professionals in Dominica did not see Ross University at that time as a legitimate medical institution.Mike was instrumental in making it possible for Ross University to establish itself at Picard. In his contribution to the debate on the 1980-1981 Budget Address, Mike stated: “Ross University spells economic development to the people of Portsmouth.” Today Ross University is the largest offshore medical school in the world employing several hundred Dominicans. The role of Mike in securing land in Chance for housing expansion in the Town of Portsmouth must also be revisited. It was Mike as a Minister of Government who ensured that 35 acres of land at Sugar Loaf Estate was acquired.Mike encouraged poor landless people to move into Chance. An abiding memory of Mike Douglas was when he stood in front of bulldozers and the police to prevent the removal of homeless persons who he had encouraged to squat on state lands in Chance from being evicted.In the end the Freedom Party government retreated. This was to mark the beginning of the mass movement of people into Chance. Mike Douglas was part of the multi-party negotiating team that travelled to London in 1977 to hold discussions on crafting the post-independence constitution for Dominica. Along with Rosie and the Popular Independence Committees, he supported and campaigned for political independence for Dominica. On this the 20th anniversary of his death, the contribution of Mike Douglas should command our attention. Apart from his tangible achievements, Mike also possessed very important qualities. He was a man of self-confidence, keen intellect, and the team ethic. He was also humble enough to listen to the man on the ground. He was accessible and kind. He abhorred arrogance and accepted constructive criticism. His brand of political activism shunned personal hatred, blind allegiance to party over country, or the cult of political idolatry. When asked what he wanted his legacy to be, he said: “to make Dominica a place where every man and woman possesses the tools to earn a decent living.”His style of leadership and the value system he espoused should be elevated to the forefront of discussion and debate. His being made for a better Dominica; his service was not in vain. May we always remember him. By Sean R Douglas LocalNews Remembering Mike Douglas by: – April 30, 2012
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New AID Bank Chairman outlines plans for the bank
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Sharing is caring! LocalNews New AID Bank Chairman outlines plans for the bank by: – May 15, 2012 Martin Charles. Photo credit: GIS NewsThe Dominica Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank (DAIDB) is seeking to stick to a five year strategic plan which was recently outlined by the bank, according to newly appointed Chairman of the Aid bank Martin Charles. Mr. Charles who served as Deputy Director of the bank since March 2010 on April 19 took up his new position succeeding Ambrose Sylvester who served as Chairman of the AID Bank board of Directors from 2006 to April 18, 2012.The new Chairman of the AID Bank in an interview with the Government Information Service said his first order of business for the bank will be to meet with members of the board of directors to review where the bank is and to determine a way forward.“First of all the bank has a five year strategic plan which was approved by Cabinet. We have set a path for the bank for the next five years. We have had our shortcomings in that we have not reached all the targets that we intended to arrive at but the board of directors are going to meet so that we can review where we at and try to tighten up on certain areas to see how best we can achieve the mission and vision of the bank.”The bank official said the success of the bank is not dependant on who the chairman is but rather is a collective effort of the board of Directors and the management and staff of the bank, supported by the major shareholder which is the Government of Dominica.Charles disclosed that during his tenure the bank will undertake new initiatives which will continue to position the bank as a model development bank in the Caribbean.“We have started to that end already. For a matter of fact we have some institutions for example the Bank of St.Lucia, they are really looking at the AID Bank as a model.” Charles said the AID bank has been able to be a shining example to other banks in a number of areas.“Some of the things that we have been able to do over the past years have caused our asset base to grow to such a significant amount that these other banks realize that something is happening at AID bank worth emulating”.In moving forward Charles expressed concern that the bank is still having difficulty in accessing cheap financing.“We have partnered with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and recently Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES) and we are looking to see how we could have our relationship extended”. Charles said the relationship with Dominica’s indigenous bank is solid. “We have already established a relationship with the National Bank of Dominica where the bank is engaged in joint financing. We would like to broaden that scope of that agreement whereby we can undertake some bigger projects”.The new chairman is looking forward to the bank being able to impact more on Dominica’s economic development.“We want to ensure that the productive sector is looked at more thoroughly because the bank has a mandate whereby we are supposed to help influence the economic development of the country”.Charles is suggesting that much more can be done. “I believe we can do much more than we are doing in terms of getting into the various communities, assisting the small businesses be it cooperatives. I know the National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD) is doing some of it, but on a bigger scale we believe that there is a role in each community for AID bank to impact on the lives of the people of Dominica”.The bank according to its new Chairman is currently in the process of holding discussions with the export import bank of China regarding a new line of credit.“Because of the bilateral relations between Dominica and China, we will be pursuing some line of credit from EXIM bank of China where loans can be made available to institutions through the Government. With that we are looking to see how we can bring some macro and micro projects to the country”.The Board of Directors comprises individuals who are selected by the Shareholders of the bank.The other members of the AID bank board of Directors re- appointed to serve another term are: Elford Henry, Hubert Joseph, Leon Leblanc, Rueben Thomas, Colbert Pinard and Denise Charles.By: Tarnia GreenGovernment Information Service
UEFA report lays bare growing wealth gap in European football
However, Deloitte’s report also showed that the Spanish champions generate almost six times the revenue of the fifth-biggest earning La Liga club, thanks to the success of their commercial operations. Even within the “Big Five” leagues, the Premier League is far ahead of the rest – it’s combined revenue of 5.4 billion euros in 2018 compares with 3.2 billion euros in the second-ranked German Bundesliga. France’s Ligue 1 is fifth with 1.7 billion euros of combined revenue in 2018, but champions PSG’s income alone reached almost a third of that figure. The report comes following a year in which radical changes to the format of the UEFA Champions League have been proposed by the European Club Association, and less than two months after Real president Florentino Perez became president of the new World Club Football Association. It has been reported that the WCFA has held talks with private equity partners over the formation of a global league. Read Also: UEFA removed Chelsea star from Team of the Year to fit in Ronaldo However, Ceferin added: “The report also shows that European club football is strong, united and resilient, and I am certain that European football can and will overcome these challenges and others just as successfully as it dealt with the threat of spiralling losses in the recent past.” The increased profits contrast with 2011, before UEFA’s introduction of the current Financial Fair Play system, when clubs reported an overall loss of 1.7 billion euros. FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail分享 Loading… Promoted ContentThe Network’s Greatest Shows On HBOThis 1982 Movie Is Better Than Any Other Blockbuster Up Today6 Ridiculous Health Myths That Are Actually True7 Netflix Shows Cancelled Because They Don’t Get The RatingsBirds Enjoy Living In A Gallery Space Created For ThemLil Nas X Is About To Beat A World Record!7 Of The Wealthiest Universities In The WorldBest & Worst Celebrity Endorsed Games Ever MadeCouples Who Celebrated Their Union In A Unique, Unforgettable Way6 Unusual Facts About Bollywood, Pollywood And Tollywood5 Of The World’s Most Unique Theme ParksWe’re Getting More Game Of Thrones: Enter House Of The Dragon! Europe’s top-division clubs generated a combined profit for the second successive year in 2018, but the gap between the wealthiest sides and the rest continues to grow, according to a new report published by UEFA. The annual “benchmarking” report from European football’s governing body calculates that the combined profit of the 700 top-tier clubs across the continent was 140 million euros ($156 million) with total revenues up to 21 billion euros, an increase of one billion euros. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin admits that a new report “highlights a number of threats” to European football However, 75 percent of all revenues were generated by the so-called “Big Five” leagues of England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. In addition, more than half of all top-division revenues for 2019 will be generated by just the top 30 clubs, according to preliminary reporting for the year. That underlines the power wielded by the continent’s very biggest sides, notably England’s so-called “Big Six” and the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. However, UEFA also highlight concerns about growing polarisation, both between the biggest leagues and the rest and between leading clubs in smaller leagues and those below them. “Despite a general improvement over time, TV distributions within many leagues are heavily skewed in favour of the biggest/most successful clubs, thereby widening the revenue gap between the big clubs and the others,” the report says. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in the foreword to the report: “The report highlights a number of threats to continued European football stability and success. “These include the risks of globalisation-fuelled revenue polarisation, of a fragmenting media landscape, and of cases of over-dependence on transfer activity revenue.” The latest Deloitte Football Money League, published this week, ranked Barcelona the top club for 2018⁄19, ahead of Madrid, becoming the first to break the 800 million-euro barrier in revenue.
‘Mikel is great but Okocha is Eagles’ all-time best’
Loading… Ex-Super Eagles midfielder Austin Okocha was the maestro of his generation and an exceptional footballer who dazzled everybody including his own teammates.Advertisement FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail分享 Read Also: Ighalo deserves new Man United deal – Arsenal legendInterestingly, Okocha earned 74 caps for Nigeria in an international career that spanned almost two decades.He won the 1994 AFCON with the Super Eagles and went on to captain the team to a couple of editions.In 2019 Okocha was inducted into the Nigeria Football hall of fame. ‘Jay Jay’ as he was fondly called by7 fans and admirers iconized the number 10 jersey as the commander on the pitch at any time and his impact in Nigerian football sets him apart as the best football of all time. Promoted Content2020 Tattoo Trends: Here’s What You’ll See This Year11 Most Immersive Game To Play On Your Table Top6 Interesting Ways To Make Money With A DroneWho’s The Best Car Manufacturer Of All Time?10 Risky Jobs Some Women DoA Soviet Shot Put Thrower’s Record Hasn’t Been Beaten To This DayTop 10 Most Romantic Nations In The World6 Extreme Facts About HurricanesA Hurricane Can Be As Powerful As 10 Atomic Bombs7 Ways To Understand Your Girlfriend BetterWhat Happens To Your Brain When You Play Too Much Video Games?Who Is The Most Powerful Woman On Earth? According to his former Super Eagles teammate, Daniel Amokachi, Jay Jay was exceptional.‘There are several eras in our football and several people will have their favorites from the list of great players like Mathematical Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amesiamaka, Mudashiru Lawal, Jay-Jay Okocha and Mikel Obi,’ Amokachi explained.‘But, if you were talking about winning laurel, certainly Mikel Obi is the greatest because he won everything you could win as a player; the Champions League, Europa, and the 2013 AFCON.‘So, naturally, Mikel will be the greatest Nigerian player ever, but for me, the best of all time is Jay-Jay Okocha, period.’
Real Madrid reject Man City interest in Raphael Varane
The French international was linked with a possible exit from the Santiago Bernabeu last summer. Read Also: Former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid boss dies at 71However, Los Blancos are likely to reject any interest in Varane, who has a bumper €500M release clause included his contract at the club.The only potential route for future transfer negotiations could appear if Varane opts not to sign a new deal with the La Liga side, with his current contract set to expire in 2022.FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail分享 Promoted ContentWho Is The Most Powerful Woman On Earth?Why Do So Many Digital Assistants Have Feminine Names & Voices?Most Outstanding Female Racers Who Made History In Sports10 Characters Who Would Make Astounding Disney Princesses7 Ways To Understand Your Girlfriend BetterPlaying Games For Hours Can Do This To Your BodyIs This The Most Delicious Food In The World?Top 10 Most Romantic Nations In The World5 Of The World’s Most Unique Theme Parks10 Risky Jobs Some Women Do6 Of The Best 90s Shows That Need To Come Back ASAPWho’s The Best Car Manufacturer Of All Time? However, boss Zinedine Zidane convinced the 26-year old to remain in the Spanish capital, as a key part of his future team plans.The former Lens centre back has been ever present for Zidane so far in 2019-20, alongside club captain Sergio Ramos.But despite appearing content to remain in Spain, reports from Mundo Deportivo claim Pep Guardiola is monitoring his situation.
Loading… La Liga giants Real Madrid have reportedly rejected any potential interest from Manchester City in defender Raphael Varane.Advertisement
IRR of ‘Bawas Bastos’ law signed
MANILA – The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of a new law that imposes stiffer penalties on a range of acts from catcalling, sexist slurs, stalking, and cyberstalking were signed on Monday. The new law places cursing, catcalling, wolf-whistling, leering, taunting, misogynistic and sexist slurs, persistent telling of sexual jokes, and use of sexual names, among others, as gender-based streets and public spaces sexual harassment. Senator Risa Hontiveros, the author of the law in the Senate, said in a speech that the Safe Spaces Act, or the Bawal Bastos Law is a game-changer measure that will end gender-based harassment and violence in public places. Officials from concerned government agencies and women’s organizations sign the implementing rules and regulations of the Safe Spaces Act or the “Bawal Bastos” law on Oct. 28, 2019. Photo by Daphne Galvez/ INQUIRER.net The specified acts may be punishable from community service of 12 hours up to arresto menor or 11 to 30 days imprisonment for the third offense./PN
Among those who signed the IRR were the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, and Commission on Human Rights. “Isa itong makasaysayang araw. Sa wakas, may IRR na ang Bawal Bastos Law. Bilang na ang mga araw ng mga ‘boy bastos’ at lahat ng sino man na gagawa ng gender-based public harassment,” added Hontiveros. “The IRR underwent an intense review by government agencies, advocacy groups and members of the academe,” she added. “This will promote positive policy, behavioral and cultural changes.”
Himamaylan local found dead
He was 48-year-old Reylin Macna ofBarangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City, a police report showed. BACOLOD City – A man was found dead inBarangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. Macna was last seen having a drinkingsession with Estelito Garcia and Ronald Rivera around 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 22. On the morning of Nov. 23, Macna wasfound lifeless by his companions. They rushed the victim to a hospital wherethe attending physician declared him “dead on arrival.” Officers of the Himamaylan City policestation have yet to rule out foul play in the incident./PN
Dela Rosa confirms US visa ‘cancelled’
Dela Rosa said the cancellation might belinked to his supposed involvement in the extrajudicial killings (EJK)allegedly perpetuated by police under Duterte’s intensified campaign againstnarcotics. In its letter, the US embassy neithergave a date nor reason when and why the visa was canceled, he said. In December 2019, news websitePolitiko.com reported that Dela Rosa, who spearheaded President RodrigoDuterte’s bloody war on drugs during his stint as police chief, has been bannedfrom entering the United States. The US, however, has yet to release anofficial list that identifies De Lima’s jailers. Several senators, including SenatePresident Vicente Sotto III, dismissed the ban on De Lima’s jailers as fakenews, but Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the provision in theUS budget was legitimate. De Lima has refuted the allegations andcalled her detention as politically motivated. (ABS-CBN News/PN) “No reason was stated,” he said. “Basta mag-apply lang daw ako ulit kung gusto ko kasi the present visa wascancelled.” De Lima, one of Duterte’s most vocalcritics, was detained in February 2017 due to her alleged ties with theproduction and sale of illegal drugs inside the national penitentiary under herwatch as Justice secretary. “What is 11,000 compared to the whole Filipino nation na matagal ng sinamantalahan ng isang kumpanya,” says Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. ABS-CBN NEWS “Bakarelated na diyan [sa EJK],” he said, noting that he firstreceived the tip about his visa before Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s Las Vegas boxingbout in July 2019, long before US senators mentioned that jailers of Philippineopposition Senator Leila de Lima will be barred from entering the US territory. “We received their official answerthe day before my birthday, January 20. What a good birthday gift,” Dela Rosatold Senate reporters on Wednesday. MANILA – Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosaconfirmed that the United States canceled his visa after he inquired about itsstatus last week.
NegOcc guv warns small-scale miners not to abuse permit
“I want to be forthright with you, ourpermit holders. Please bear in mind that the permit given to you is aprivilege, a privilege to use and enjoy our resources, not a license to abuseour finite natural reserves,” Lacson reiterated in his message to theparticipants of the Governor’s Permit Holders’ Forum and Dialogue held at theNegros Residences here Friday. BACOLOD City – Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has reminded small-scale miners inNegros Occidental that the permit issued to them by the provincial governmentis a privilege that should not be abused. Regional Director Raul Laput of theDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau –Western Visayas discussed his agency’s relevant policy issuances. (With a report from PNA/PN) Lacson said it is time that both thegovernment and the private sector demonstrate that economic growth andprotection of the environment can go together and not be in conflict with eachother. During the forum, the permitholders/stakeholders were informed of the province’s policy direction for theyear 2020 and were also asked to provide inputs on how to improve the permitprocessing and regulations in line with the need to promote responsible miningpractices among mining practitioners in Negros Occidental. Amisola discussed the innovative changesthat have been adopted and the future development strategies to improve theservices related to applying for Governor’s Permit. Lacson commended the ProvincialEnvironment Management Office, headed by lawyer Danilo Amisola, for organizingthe forum and dialogue. “I want to give you my full trust andconfidence, that you will use the grant given to you responsibly and conscientiously,and it is my ardent hope that such trust will always be preserved andrespected,” he added. The governor also acknowledged thepermit holders who have complied with the required fees in full. Some 200 participants, led by NegrosOccidental Miners Permittees Association, Inc. vice president Allan JosephArceo, attended the whole-day gathering, which served as a venue to discuss andaddress pressing issues concerning the sand and gravel and mineral use in theprovince and to strengthen the collaborative participation between governmentagencies and permit holders. “I want to be forthright with you, our permit holders. The permit given to you is a privilege, not a license to abuse our finite natural reserves,” says Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental. NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PIO
Bill To Benefit School Safety Signed Into Law
State Representative Randy Frye co-sponsored a bill that further protects Hoosier students.Legislation co-sponsored by State Representative Randy Frye (R-Greensburg) regarding school safety was signed into law Monday by Governor Pence.During the 2013 legislation session, the Indiana General Assembly created the Secured School Safety Board to approve grant applications to hire a school resource officer.With the signing of Senate Enrolled Act 85, the Secured School Safety Board will now be able to provide a matching grant to increase training opportunities for school resource officers as well.“By allowing schools greater flexibility to adequately train their school resource officers, we are ensuring that these men and women are as prepared as they can be in the case of an emergency,” said Rep. Frye. “As a parent and grandparent, I hope and pray that that never happens here in Indiana, but it is still imperative that we be prepared.”SEA 85 also makes changes to the requirements necessary to be a school resource officer. Officers are now required to be employed by a law enforcement agency, appointed as a police officer or special deputy or employed as a school corporation police officer.“I am pleased to see this legislation signed into law, and I am even more proud to not only have been a part of it but also to be part of a legislative body that puts such significant emphasis on securing our state’s schools,” said Rep. Frye. “As of November 2013, the SSSB had awarded $4.1 million in grant funds to 100 school corporations. This is a significant investment in our children’s safety.”SEA 85 will go into effect on July 1, 2014.
Local State Track Participants
Good Luck to the following area track athletes who will be competing at Indiana University this weekend. The girls will run tonight and the boys will follow tomorrow at the IU facility.Running for the Batesville Lady Bulldogs will be Ginny Westerfeld in the 100m and 200m dashes. Kim Tidman will compete in the long jump, and she will team up with Ginny and Michaela Westerfeld and Sophie Meadows to run the 4 x 100m relay.There will be 2 young ladies competing for Oldenburg Academy at this same meet. They are Kristen Ricke in the 300m hurdles and Meredith Maier in the 800m run. Competing in the 400m dash for Milan will be Grace Herzog.Cade Knueven of East Central will be running both the 100m and 200m dashes at the boys state meet on Saturday. East Central also has a young man, Nathan Corn, competing in the pole vault.Good luck to all of these area athletes as they complete the 2014 track season!
Indiana Lawmaker Reacts To Presidential Address
Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind)WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement after President Obama’s speech about the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL):“The president’s speech was a sharp, welcome reversal to his previous comments on foreign policy. He has finally grasped the true nature of the threat that ISIL poses, and his response to begin the process of taking down this so-called caliphate is welcome news.“The president incorporated in his speech many of the elements I have called for and that are necessary to achieve success. One is pursuing ISIL forces wherever they are, rather than his previous policy of using force only in Iraq. Also, the president’s call for coalition building is essential, but it is critical that moderate Muslim states play a significant role in this effort.“The president’s plan seemed to limit ground forces to the Iraqi Army and Syrian Free Army, both of which have not shown that they can match up to ISIL. The key here is to be resolute in doing what is necessary to defeat to ISIL. The president’s reference to using the same strategy we are using in Yemen and Somalia must be put in the context of the limited success we are having in these countries.“The American people need to understand that if we are to be successful, we are in for a long and protracted effort that will require a resolute commitment from the United States. The region and the world are looking to America and to President Obama for leadership.”