This week at NAB 2018, Zeiss’s popular lens line finally gets its full frame and metadata-rich update. Here’s what you need to know.All images via Zeiss.As we covered at NAB last year, Zeiss’s powerful compact lens line received an update for the digital filmmaking future with the CP.3 lens family. We got our hands on some of the new lenses last year, and we were definitely impressed; however, we were already excited about a new “XD” version, which now offers greater full-frame camera compatibility — and the much-anticipated metadata stream.As you can see in a great interview with No Film School, Zeiss brought the updated lens line to the NAB Show floor. So, let’s look at how the new CP.3 line stacks up.Full Frame FriendlyWhen we got our hands on the CP.3 line, the lenses ranged from 18mm to 135mm and looked great on a Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro in 4.6K. However, to keep up with the market, Zeiss’s new CP.3 line is now full frame friendly, on everything from the Sony Venice to ARRI Alexas to the new Canon C700 FF full frame offering.Rich MetadataHowever, the most exciting element of the new CP.3 line is its eXtended Data Technology (“XD”), which offers real-time metadata on lens distortion and shading characteristics, which you can monitor and share with pre-vis modified images for search functions and data wrangling. You can read more about Zeiss’s XD technology on their website, but for filmmakers looking at metadata mining as the way of the future, the new CP.3s are the way to go.The new Zeiss CP.3 lenses are quite an investment, coming in at almost $5,000 a lens (less for packages), so rental packages may be your best option. For more information on cinema and prime lenses, check out some of these resources:A Look at the ARRI/Zeiss Master and Ultra Prime LensesPrimes vs. Zooms: Situational EF Lens PrepWhy Cinema Lenses Will Improve Your Next Film ProjectAnd for more NAB coverage, check out these other breaking news articles:NAB 2018 Announcement: Meet Sigma’s 14-24mm f/2.8 Art LensNAB 2018: Blackmagic Announces DaVinci Resolve 15NAB 2018: SmallHD Unveils 5 New Focus MonitorsNAB 2018: Blackmagic Is Releasing A New Pocket Cinema CameraNAB 2018 Announcement: The Sony FS5 Gets an Update
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India beat South Africa by a run in second ODI
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SPORT- ICC CORRUPTION 2(SPB1)
(REOPENS BOM 3) On the hotline set up by the ICC, Sir Flanagan said, “I am talking about two different hotlines…there is a hotline for this tournament (ICC World T20) which is a mobile phone of one of anti-corruption officers and he has been directed that phone will be on 24×7 and thats something we did at the last World Cup (2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and NZ) and thats something we do at major tournaments. “In addition to that, we have a hotline that goes back to the office in Dubai. So when the tournament is over and somebody comes by some information they like to pass on, there this is the hotline they can dial on our website. We give it to all the players, support staff, officials. They carry it in wallets just like cards. Even if the office in Dubai is not manned, there would be a recorded message,” he explained. Sir Flanagan also revealed that the anti-corruption unit has recently come across an instance where an unnamed teams players were intending to indulge in corrupt practices but they were aborted by the ICCs intervention. “Quite recently, we had reason to believe that members of a particular team had intentions to manipulate the game in forthcoming matches. This was an international team, but I am not going to give any details. The case is still under our investigation, so the individuals we believe had intention to manipulate, to facilitate betting on those attempts.” “Barring in mind that we exist to prevent corruption, we decided in this particular case to intervene. We would (now) bring together the entire squad, focus on individuals whom we suspected. We would remind them and the entire squad of all the responsibilities. “I am certain that our action in that particular case did indeed avert and prevent the intention of just one or two individuals. We have taken action against those individuals and we will be taking further action. These are concrete examples of action we take place based on intelligence. We have averted, prevented intention of bad people to corrupt the game,” he elaborated. (MORE) PTI NRB SSR ARS AH AH PTPadvertisement
Jamshedpur FC signs Steve Coppell as head coach
New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) Indian Super League side Jamshedpur Football Club today announced the signing of Englishman Steve Coppell as their head coach for the upcoming ISL season. The former Manchester United star and England international joined the Jamshedpur-based franchise after a successful stint with Kerala Blasters. Under Coppell, a former Manchester City manager, Kerala Blaster finished runners-up last year. Tata Steel also announced the signing of former India player Ishfaq Ahmed as the assistant coach of the franchise. Ishfaq has also been working with Kerala Blasters for the last two years as an assistant coach. “Tata Steel has a long and enduring commitment to sports, especially football. Our foray into ISL is in line with the commitment to develop Indian football. Jamshedpur Football Clubs association with Steve Coppell and Ishfaq Ahmed is yet another step in this direction,” T V Narendran, Managing Director, Tata Steel India & South-East Asia, said. PTI PDS PDS
Ashes 2017: Alastair Cook tells England teammates to mend their ways after Stokes incident
The England cricket team has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately.First it was the Ben Stokes and Alex Hales pub brawl which saw the all-rounder getting suspended from the team, then it was the Jonny Bairstow and Cameron Bancroft headbutt incident which grabbed headlines as well.All this has contributed to England’s disappointing performance in the ongoing Ashes series in which they trail 0-2 with the third Test due to begin at Perth on Thursday.Former England captain Alastair Cook has now warned his players that they cannot afford any more mistakes after all that has happened in the past few months.”The world’s obviously changed for the England cricket team in September. And it’s probably taken us a couple of months to really realise that. These last two incidents have probably proven that.”I’ve seen the word trivial, a misdemeanour at best and a very low key thing but since obviously the Stokesy thing in September things have changed for the England cricket team,” Cook said.”It’s sad in some ways because we have always been a bit different to football and been able to go under the radar a bit and enjoy playing cricket for England and enjoy seeing the country outside that,” he further stated.The opening batsman also noted that the players need to adjust real soon as they cannot afford any more mistakes.”But the world has changed after the September incident and it’s now down to us to adjust to it quickly and we can’t afford any more mistakes,” explained Cook.advertisementThe distinguished opener is all set to become the first English player to play in 150 Tests when he steps out against Australia in the third Test at the WACA Ground.Cook is the leading run-scorer in Test matches for England, with 11,691 runs scored in 149 Tests.(With ANI inputs)He also holds the record of captaining the England cricket team in an English record of 59 Tests.
Young HR Gives Yanks Win
HOUSTON — Two New York Yankees from Houston stole the show against the Astros on the night of June 26.Chris Young had a go-ahead, three-run homer among three more hits in his hometown, lifting the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Astros.Nathan Eovaldi (7-2), who grew up just outside of Houston in Alvin, Texas, yielded five hits and two runs with six strikeouts in six innings to give him a career-high seven wins.He did it just feet away from fellow Alvin native Nolan Ryan, who sat in the front row just behind home plate.He’s never met the Hall of Famer and didn’t realize he was sitting there until his night was almost done. He hopes to meet him before the series is over.“Growing up for me I connected baseball with him,” Eovaldi said. “In our town it was Nolan Ryan everything. You go to any restaurant his memorabilia and everything was there.”New York managed just three hits through the first six innings. The Yankees trailed 2-0 before Carlos Beltran and Garrett Jones had back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh to chase Houston rookie starter Vince Velasquez.He was replaced by Will Harris (4-1), who was greeted with Young’s shot to the Crawford Boxes in left field to put the Yankees on top.“Will’s been fantastic,” manager A.J. Hinch said of Harris, who has a 1.03 ERA. “He had one bad pitch in about a month.”Young, who extended his hitting-streak to a career high-tying nine games Friday, has nine homers, 33 RBIs and 14 multihit games in 25 career games at Minute Maid Park.“It definitely doesn’t hurt to have some extra support behind your back and a little extra kind of fire up under you when you step to the plate,” Young said.“You always have it under you, but anybody I think will agree that when you have 50 people in the stands, it definitely makes a difference.”Young’s recent hitting streak has raised his average from .220 to .271. “He’s been really hot and that’s why he’s playing every day,” Manager Joe Girardi said.Carlos Correa had a run-scoring single in the third inning for Houston and an RBI single by Evan Gattis made it 2-0 in the sixth.Chasen Shreve struck out the side in the seventh for New York for his 13th straight scoreless appearance and Dellin Betances struck out two in 1 1-3 innings for his fifth save. Betances leads all relievers in the majors with 61 strikeouts.Velasquez, who was making his fourth career start, allowed five hits and two runs in a season-high 6 1-3 innings.Jose Altuve singled with one out in the sixth inning and stole second base on a strikeout by Luis Valbuena.It was the first time a runner stole a base with Eovaldi on the mound since June 13, 2014, and it was Altuve’s American League-leading 21st steal.Altuve made it 2-0 when he scored on a bloop single by Gattis that dropped in between Stephen Drew, Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner in shallow center field as both Drew and Gregorius fell to the ground trying to catch it.Young singled in the fifth, but the Yankees couldn’t do anything else in that inning. Chase Headley singled with one out in the sixth before Mark Teixeira grounded into a double play to end the inning.Jones robbed Colby Rasmus of a hit when he slid on his knees for a catch for the last out of the fourth inning.Gardner continued his recent hot hitting with a double off the wall in center field with two outs in the third inning, but Velasquez retired Headley to end the threat. Gardner had two hits on Friday night and has three doubles, one triple, four homers and 10 RBIs in his last eight games.Hank Conger hit a one-out double in the third inning and scored on a single by Correa with two outs to make it 1-0.(KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer)TweetPinShare0 Shares
Premier League: Liverpool falter once again, held to draw by West Ham United
Leaders Liverpool faltered in the Premier League title race for the second time in six days as they were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham United on Monday.After being held at home by Leicester City last Wednesday, then seeing closest rivals Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur close the gap at the weekend, Juergen Klopp’s side needed to send out a statement of intent.But they failed to build on Sadio Mane’s rather fortuitous goal after 22 minutes and West Ham, who equalised six minutes later through Michail Antonio, deserved at least a point.Substitute Divock Origi wasted a chance in stoppage time for the visitors but it would have been harsh on West Ham who snapped a run of four consecutive league defeats by Liverpool in which they conceded four goals in each.”It was a tough game,” Klopp said. “Apparently our goal was offside and maybe the referee knew that in the second half. It’s a point and a fair point.””I said we could have played better tonight, 100 per cent, but it’s the situation and it’s not perfect.”Jürgen Klopp felt a point was a deserved outcome for #LFC in tonight’s 1-1 draw with @WestHamUtd. https://t.co/LqTReW0vZdLiverpool FC (@LFC) February 4, 2019Had West Ham taken their chances against a jittery Liverpool side it could have been worse for the visitors who can be knocked off the top on goal difference if Manchester City beat Everton in a re-arranged fixture on Wednesday.advertisementLiverpool looked unusually hesitant in defence and Javier Hernandez and Aaron Cresswell both went close for the Hammers before Liverpool took the lead.Their fans were celebrating though when James Milner, who looked clearly offside, received the ball on the right and crossed low for Mane who took a touch before swivelling and firing past Lukasz Fabianski.The lead lasted only six minutes though as Liverpool switched off at a free kick and Naby Keita failed to track the run of Antonio who fired inside Alisson’s far post.Liverpool had a huge let-off minutes before the break when Felipe Anderson’s free kick found youngster Declan Rice completely unmarked but he headed wide of a gaping goal.Mohamed Salah had three goal attempts in quick succession after the break but West Ham skipper Mark Noble should have put his side ahead when he shot over from a central position.Origi could have given Liverpool a crucial win but fired straight at Fabianski.West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, who did a big favour to his former club Manchester City, said his side had been let down by the match officials.”We had a lot of chances to win this game. We drew because they scored a clearly offside goal,” he said.”Playing against a team who have scored so many goals with the best defence in the league, I’m happy with the performance but disappointed with the result.”Also Read | Sergio Aguero hat-trick fires Manchester City to 3-1 win over ArsenalAlso Read | Emiliano Sala missing plane: One body seen in underwater wreckageAlso Read | Manchester City’s Gundogan says no cup distractions give Liverpool advantage in title race
$88.8 Billion Allocated for Debt Repayment
The second largest provision of $17 billion is earmarked for partial redemption of Treasury Bills issued by the Administration, pursuant to the Treasury Bills Act, for short-term financing to meet temporary cash needs arising from fluctuations in revenue flows. The Government has allocated $88.84 billion in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, for debt repayment this year.Of this sum, the lion’s share of $58.6 billion will go towards repaying Jamaican dollar benchmark investment notes issued under the Jamaica Debt Exchange/National Debt Exchange (JDX/NDX) initiatives.The second largest provision of $17 billion is earmarked for partial redemption of Treasury Bills issued by the Administration, pursuant to the Treasury Bills Act, for short-term financing to meet temporary cash needs arising from fluctuations in revenue flows.Another $11.33 billion has been set aside for contingency payments in relation to a) a liability management exercise that was executed, for which $10 billion is earmarked; and b) loans for principal payments that may arise out of the invocation of government guarantees on internal debt, for which $1.33 billion has been set aside.A total of $111.4 million has been allocated for the repayment of promissory notes issued and loans raised from parastatal bodies.These include reimbursement of taxes withheld on loan payments due to the National Insurance Fund (NIF) and other investments, payment to the National Housing Trust regarding Stadium Gardens and Jamaica Defence Force housing, and payment to the Development Bank of Jamaica and the PetroCaribe Development Fund for debt assumed on behalf of the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ).A sum of $1.84 billion has been set aside for the repayment of loans raised from commercial banks to finance SCJ loans assumed by the Government.Meanwhile, $250,000 will go towards the repayment of salary bonds in relation to outstanding public-sector salary claims. The Government has allocated $88.84 billion in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, for debt repayment this year. Another $11.33 billion has been set aside for contingency payments in relation to a) a liability management exercise that was executed, for which $10 billion is earmarked; and b) loans for principal payments that may arise out of the invocation of government guarantees on internal debt, for which $1.33 billion has been set aside. Story Highlights
Halifax Port Authority Gets A+ Credit Rating
zoom Rating agency Standard & Poor’s has affirmed investment-grade credit rating of A+ with a stable outlook for Canada’s Halifax Port Authority. The stable outlook reflects the agency’s view of the authority’s prudent financial management to date and the expectation that it will not issue significantly more debt in the next two years than it assumes in its current capital plan.Standard & Poor’s also expects that the authority will continue to record moderate cargo and revenue growth in the two-year outlook horizon, as well as produce strong annual debt service coverage ratios of about 15x despite its debt peaking in 2015.The ratings also reflect the agency’s opinion of a “moderately high” likelihood that the federal government of Canada would provide extraordinary support in the event of financial distress.”The diverse revenue streams at the Port of Halifax help to provide long term stability,” said Paul MacIsaac, Senior Vice President, Halifax Port Authority.”Our diversification strategy involves the development of all core business lines – cargo, cruise and real estate.”
Bolton says N Korea missile tests violated UN resolutions
Tokyo: US national security adviser John Bolton on Saturday called a series of short-range missile tests by North Korea earlier this month a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and said sanctions must be kept in place. Washington’s position on the North’s denuclearization is consistent and a repeated pattern of failures to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons should be stopped, Bolton said, defending the recent U.S. seizure of a North Korean cargo ship. The U.S., however, is willing to resume talks with North Korea at any time, Bolton said. Also Read – ‘Hong Kong won’t rule out Chinese help over protests’Bolton was speaking to reporters in Tokyo ahead of President Donald Trump’s arrival for a four-day visit to Japan. North Korea tested short-range ballistic missiles on May 4 and 9, ending a pause in launches that began in late 2017. The tests are seen as a way of pressuring Washington to compromise without actually causing the negotiations to collapse. “U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from firing any ballistic missiles,” Bolton said. “In terms of violating U.N. Security Council resolutions, there is no doubt about that.” Trump and other officials have played down the significance of the missile tests. Also Read – Pak Army chief accompanies Imran at key meetings in ChinaDuring his visit, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will “talk about making sure the integrity of the Security Council resolutions are maintained,” Bolton said. The two leaders are also expected to discuss Iran, as well as trade and the bilateral security alliance, after playing golf and watching sumo wrestling Sunday. Bolton’s comments came a day after North Korea’s official media said nuclear negotiations with Washington won’t resume unless the US abandons what Pyongyang describes as unilateral disarmament demands.
Tata Steels Q1 consolidated steel output up 9 to 761 mt
New Delhi: Domestic steel giant Tata Steel Sunday said its consolidated steel production rose by 9.18 per cent to 7.61 million tonnes (MT) in the first quarter of the current fiscal. The company’s output in the year-ago period was at 6.97 MT, Tata Steel Ltd said in a BSE filing. During April-June 2019, Tata Steel India produced 4.37 MT as against 3.64 MT in the same quarter a year ago. In Europe, Tata Steel Europe produced 2.66 MT in the quarter as compared to 2.81 MT in the same period of 2018-19. Also Read – Maruti cuts production for 8th straight month in SepTata Steel South East Asia produced 0.58 MT in April-June over 0.52 MT in the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Tata Steel’s consolidated sales during the quarter under review stood at 6.75 MT, up from 6.39 MT in the same period a year ago. During April-June 2019, Tata Steel India sold 3.87 MT as against 3.34 MT in the same quarter last year. In Europe, it sold 2.27 MT as compared to 2.45 MT. In South East Asia, the company sold 0.61 MT in the quarter as against 0.60 MT in the same period previous fiscal. Also Read – Ensure strict implementation on ban of import of e-cigarettes: revenue to Customs”Global business confidence has dipped sharply in recent months amidst broader economic weakness and the uncertainty around the ongoing US-China trade conflict, which has had an adverse effect on investment decisions, capex spend and trade flows. Consequently, steel prices across many geographies declined in 1QFY20. “This coincided with a sharp rise in iron ore prices due to supply disruptions and elevated coking coal costs. As a result, market spreads for steel producers globally have been affected,” Tata Steel said in the filing. In India, the company said that liquidity issues in the NBFC and banking sector along with rural stress have negatively impacted sentiments and overall economic activities, including domestic consumption. Despite this, Tata Steel’s production in India during first quarter increased by 20 per cent year-on-year with consolidation of Tata Steel BSL for the full quarter and higher capacity utilisation at both Tata Steel Standalone and Tata Steel BSL, it said. In Europe, the steel industry is facing significant headwinds in terms of lower economic growth and trade flow uncertainty that is impacting steel consuming products, the company added.
WWE Superstar Big Show Announced as Special Olympics newest Global Ambassador
Special Olympics International announced today that Big Show, one of the most decorated WWE Superstars, will be named the newest Special Olympics Global Ambassador.In his new role, Big Show will help Special Olympics in its efforts to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities and to advance a fully inclusive world.“We are excited to welcome Big Show as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador,” said Special Olympics International CEO, Mary Davis. “His enthusiasm and his commitment to creating an inclusive world through sport will help fuel the spirit of our movement. Our athletes invite Big Show to join us and show the world that when we play unified, we live unified.”Big Show has supported Special Olympics since the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in New Jersey, where he participated in the Opening Ceremony. In 2015, Big Show was appointed as the WWE Goodwill Ambassador for the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles and served as co-captain in the Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America. On the local level, he continues to support Special Olympics Florida.“At every event, it is a joy to see Special Olympics athletes’ enthusiasm, courage, determination and sportsmanship as they are an inspiration to me and to all the WWE Superstars,” said Big Show. “They motivate us to work harder and above all, to have fun while doing so. To be able to work with individuals who inspire everyone by their dedication and perseverance is an amazing testament to the human spirit. They have big dreams and I am honored to, in a small way, help those dreams become a reality.”With a career lasting more than two decades, Big Show is one of the most decorated Superstars in WWE history. The six-time world champion is the first Superstar to capture the WWE, WCW, and ECW Championships.
Madeleine Thien Brian Francis and Kate Cayley comprise jury panel for 2016
Advertisement Facebook Advertisement Madeleine Thien, Brian Francis and Kate Cayley will judge the 2016 Journey Prize, which recognizes the best short story published in a Canadian literary magazine.Thien’s latest novel Do Not Say We Have Nothing is currently longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. She is also the author of Dogs At the Perimeter and Certainty.Madeleine Thien just described our dream literary dinner Twitter Personal stories that inspired Madeleine Thien’s Man Booker Prize-nominated novelPlaywright and poet Cayley’s recent book of short stories How You Were Born won this year’s Trillium Book Award and was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction. LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment Advertisement Login/Register With:
Indigenous prof puzzled by CSIS answer to information request
APTN National NewsOTTAWA–An Indigenous academic now has more questions than answers after receiving an access to information request aimed at finding out if her name was in the files of Canada’s spy agency.Pam Palmater, a Ryerson professor and chair in Indigenous governance, received a batch of documents last month that left her wondering what the Canadian Security Intelligence Service didn’t want her to find out.“They have a file on me and they are legally entitled not to release it to me, which is ridiculous,” said Palmater. “There is nothing about my activities that are subversive to Canada as a nation, or hostile, unless you consider Facebook, Twitter, writing blogs and appearing before Senate committees subversive and hostile.”Much of what CSIS released to Palmater appears to be related to security screenings from her time working for Justice Canada.The security screening reports contain her name, birth date and addresses, but the spy agency redacted parts of the document under a section of the Access to information Act that allows information to be kept secret if it “relates to the efforts of Canada towards detecting, preventing or suppressing subversive or hostile activities.”Palmater said it gave her a “chill” when she read those words.“Within our own country, First Nations are considered terrorists,” she said. “That, in of itself, and knowing what happens in other countries to people who are considered hostile, it does give me a chill.”CSIS also told Palmater it could not “confirm nor deny” whether they had ever investigated her activities.A CSIS spokesperson said Palmater likely received a standard response for the type of request she submitted.“In the letter that Ms. Palmater received, there is a sentence that gives the description of section 15 of the Access to Information Act…it is intended to provide a description… for those individuals who may not be familiar with it,” said spokesperson Tahera Mufti. “The letter also states that should the individual wish to access more information, she is encouraged to do so by sending a request to the office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.”Palmater said she filed her access to information request after it surfaced that a prominent child advocate was under watch by the federal Aboriginal Affairs department.APTN National News reported late last fall that federal Aboriginal Affairs officials were spying on Cindy Blackstock, who had taken the federal government to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for underfunding First Nations child welfare services.“Obviously the national security provisions are far too broad if they encapsulate young Indigenous people who are educated and are working to improve their communities,” said Palmater.
Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative shutting down
APTN National NewsA long-running initiative in Calgary designed to help Indigenous newcomers to the city is closing its doors.A lack of funding commitment from all three levels of government is forcing the closure.APTN’s Chris Stewart has this story.
TSX little changed amid steep declines in resource sectors
TORONTO — The Toronto stock market closed slightly higher Thursday in a volatile session that saw the resource sectors register further declines.[np_storybar title=”What went wrong for the Canadian economy and why didn’t anybody see it coming?” link=”https://business.financialpost.com/2015/01/28/terence-corcoran-the-canadian-economy-nobody-saw-coming/”%5DTerence Corcoran: We’ve got big data revisions, shock bank rate cuts, a falling loonie. Through it all, nobody saw it coming. Keep reading. [/np_storybar]The S&P/TSX composite index came back from a 210-point plunge to finish 33.08 points higher at 14,635.96.There was also uncertainty about when the U.S. Federal Reserve is going to raise rates.“It looks like they’re going to go mid-year; that’s another concern,” said Ian Nakamoto, director of research at 3MACS.The Canadian dollar lost more ground in the wake of Wednesday’s announcement from the Federal Reserve, which left markets with the impression that the U.S. central bank will start hiking rates around the middle of this year. The loonie lost 0.57 of a cent to 79.3 cents US, its lowest level since late March 2009, adding to a drop of three-quarters of a cent on Wednesday.The Fed said it would be patient in beginning to normalize monetary policy while at the same time it pointed out a string of positives about the American economy, including that economic activity is expanding at a solid pace. U.S. markets put interest rate concerns aside and several homebuilders surged as data showed that completed home sales increased seven per cent in the fourth quarter.The Dow industrials ran ahead 225.48 points to 17,416.85, the Nasdaq climbed 45.42 points to 4,683.41 and the S&P 500 index gained 19.09 points to 2,021.25.Oil prices inched up slightly after plunging almost $2 Wednesday in the wake of figures showing U.S. crude inventories still at 80-year highs. The March contract came off a low of $43.58 to add eight cents to US$44.53 a barrel and the energy sector dropped 1.1 per cent.A major decliner was Canadian Oil Sands. The company cut its quarterly dividend from 35 cents to five cents a share to preserve cash as it tried to cope with the 55 per cent plunge in oil prices since last summer.The company announced in early January that it would be cutting the dividend from 35 cents to 20 cents, but said after markets closed Thursday that the outlook has deteriorated since then and slashed the planned payout further. Its stock had been halted mid-afternoon, when it was down 50 cents or 7.1 per cent at $6.51.The base metals sector on the TSX fell 1.65 per cent as March copper fell three cents to US$2.44 a pound. “The only thing good is that (miners) have a cushion with the lower Canadian dollar but that’s not enough to offset the decline in copper — copper is off 30 per cent,” noted Nakamoto.Gold plunged as traders weighed the chances of the Fed moving rates up as early as June and February bullion declined $31.30 to US$1,255.90 an ounce and the gold sector faded 0.6 per cent.TSX sectors outside the resource groups were positive, led by a 2.1 per cent rise in the tech sector and a 1.9 per cent run-up in consumer staples.Meanwhile, PotashCorp (TSX:POT) posted quarterly income of $407 million or 49 cents per share, beating estimates of 47 cents. Revenue was $1.9 billion, compared with $1.5 billion a year ago and its shares added 12 cents to $45.48.Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B) posted adjusted net income of $355 million or 69 cents a share, beating expectations of 64 cents. Its revenue was up four per cent at $3.37 billion. It also hiked its annual dividend by five per cent and its shares rose 31 cents to $44.86. Its shares gained $1.76 to $78.
Police digest Puppy scam in Norfolk
Dog lovers beware.A Norfolk resident is out $350 after falling victim to a puppy scam.Police said the complainant located an ad on a website for a puppy for sale in Waterford. The resident then contacted the seller and agreed upon a price for the dog. The victim then sent $350 as a down payment through an e-transfer from their bank account. However the puppy was never received.The victim attended the residence listed on the ad and spoke to the homeowner, who was totally unaware that their address was being used to sell animals.The OPP are warning all Norfolk County residents to be extremely vigilant when searching buy and sell websites. Some scam artists use stolen photos in their ads, claiming they are pictures of animals for sale. The OPP remind everyone to make sure they have seen what they are buying in person before transferring any money.Driver charged after collisionA 23-year-old woman has been charged following a collision in Delhi earlier this week.On Monday morning Norfolk OPP responded to a collision involving a school bus and a motor vehicle.It was determined that a school bus was travelling southbound on James Street when it collided with a vehicle at the intersection of Crosier Street. No children were on board and the bus driver was not injured.The driver of the motor vehicle suffered minor injuries and was sent to a local area hospital by ambulance to be treated.As a result, police charged 23-year-old Norfolk woman with improper left turn under the Highway Traffic Act.$10,000 of equipment stolenEquipment valued at $10,000 was stolen from a vehicle on Schafer Side Road near Courtland.Early Monday, thieves gained entry into a locked tree removal truck. Once inside, they removed four chain saws, along with various sets of rigging and climbing gear.
Kurdish lawmakers can set an example for all of Iraq – UN
The senior United Nations envoy for Iraq has told Kurdish lawmakers that they, and the people of Kurdistan, had the opportunity and capability to provide a beacon and example for the rest of Iraq.“[The Kurdish people] suffered political isolation, economic deprivation and brutal repression including genocidal onslaughts during the era of the previous regime…yet remained determined to assert their freedom and dignity, and valiantly struggled for their basic human rights,” said Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in a speech delivered on Saturday at the inaugural session of the Kurdistan National Assembly.The elections to the Kurdistan National Assembly, represented “an important milestone in Iraq’s political transition,” Mr. Qazi also said, adding that the extraordinary diversity of people living in Kurdistan is a priceless national asset. The role played by the Kurdish Alliance in the formation of the new government following general elections held on January 30 demonstrated that the people of this region have a vital role to play in shaping the destiny of their country, Mr. Qazi said.
Bonn Participants at UN conference examine human mobility in an era of
The number of disaster displacements on annual average between 2008 and 2016 amounted to 25.3 million, according to figures released by the Norwegian Refugee Council. The five countries globally that have the highest proportion of their population affected by displacements are all island States: Cuba, Fiji, Philippines, Tonga and Sri Lanka. “During this hurricane season alone for example, we saw the displacement of 1.7 million people in Cuba – that’s the equivalent of 15 per cent of its population,” said Camila Minerva, Humanitarian Programme Manager with Oxfam in the Dominican Republic, during a press conference on ‘human mobility and climate change’ at the UN Climate Conference (COP23), in Bonn, Germany. “The poorest and the most marginalized are five times more likely to be displaced and to remain so for longer time than people in higher income countries, and [this number] is increasing with climate change,” she added. Mariam Traore, Migration, Environment and Climate Change Specialist with the UN International Organizaton for Migration (IOM), said that it is also important to remember that the slow onset effect of climate change makes people move and migrate, sometimes in a forced way. “In a country like Bangladesh, we did a survey last year and 40 per cent of the households we interviewed told us that climate change contributed directly to their decision to migrate,” she explained. In this context, some have suggested the creation of a ‘climate refugee’ status, protecting those forced to leave their country because of the impacts of climate change. “The legals status for refugees is provided by the 1951 Refugee Convention, which is very clear on what [basis such status is conferred], which is basically persecution,” said Marine Franck, Programme Officer (climate change), Division of International Protection, in the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “In the context of climate change displacement, there might be cases where there is persecution involved where this refugee status could apply but in most cases, it doesn’t,” she added. She recalled that in 2011, States had suggested that UNHCR create a new status of refugee for people displaced because of climate change. “But some States were not at all ready for that,” she stated. Ms. Franck stressed that this issue of broadening the scope of refugee protection “is not necessarily desirable, because there is a risk of undermining the refugees fleeing persecution and violent conflict.” Moreover, she explained: “We would need also to renegotiate the Convention and there is no appetite for that from States and it might not be the most effective protection tool.” UNHCR thinks it is better to look at what exists at the regional level and try to have a bottom-up approach with broadening at the regional level using practices that are effective. She mentioned humanitarian protection visas, temporary protection and stay arrangements, as well as migration laws that can provide real protection. “It is much more effective because States are going to look at what their neighbours are doing and may adopt the same kind of procedures, rather than if we adopt a global convention or a new category […] it might not be easy to negotiate and it is not also sure that States will then implement it properly,” Ms. Franck said.
How Good Will The Lakers Be With LeBron
Love them or hate them, the Los Angeles Lakers long represented the closest thing the NBA had to a proverbial land of milk and honey. For the better part of three decades, the club often had a surplus of star players, a robust record, and the occasional championship trophy.Then they were hit with what equates to a biblical drought for their fans: a five-season stretch without a playoff berth.But on Sunday night, the sky opened up and watered the thirsting Laker franchise, as LeBron James, the world’s best basketball player, chose to join the Los Angeles club as a free agent, agreeing to a four-year, $154 million deal, according to Klutch Sports, the sports management agency that represents James.James’s choice will change the NBA landscape for obvious reasons. LeBron reached eight straight NBA Finals in the Eastern Conference, and his departure from his hometown Cleveland club almost certainly figures to put the Cavaliers back in the cellar, while also giving other teams in the badly diminished East — like Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto — a clearer path to the Finals.But the more pressing issue for the 33-year-old James is how quickly he and the young Lakers can become title contenders while Golden State essentially has a stranglehold on the league.The answer obviously hinges on the route Los Angeles takes next: either a more patient approach that lets the talented yet unseasoned Lakers develop around James, or a more aggressive one that involves trading some of that talent for a proven star like Kawhi Leonard.Regardless of which path the Lakers take, they will be considerably improved if LeBron can stay healthy the way he always has.According to CARMELO, FiveThirtyEight’s NBA player projection system, the current club with James would be projected to win 52 games, with an 11 percent probability of winning it all next season.1This assumes the Lakers would be keeping Julius Randle, who is currently a restricted free agent — one Los Angeles can exceed the salary cap to keep if it wishes. The projected win total would jump considerably, to nearly 60 victories with a 22 percent probability of a title, if the Lakers were to land Leonard in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Luol Deng and a first-round pick or two. Such a deal would sting — Ingram has incredible potential, and Kuzma’s an impressive young scorer — and you can bet on the Lakers doing all they can to resist surrendering this sort of haul. Yet Leonard’s stature as a top-five talent when healthy is impossible to deny, and he would quicken any timeline for contention. (The late-Sunday-night addition of Lance Stephenson didn’t figure to help the team much, per our projections, which essentially label the ex-Pacer as a replacement-level player at this point.)The first scenario, in which LeBron plays with the homegrown Lakers, would be a pretty far cry from 2014, when he started his second stint with Cleveland by playing alongside two other established scorers in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love and thrived in a wide-open offense that catered to James’s unique ability to drive and kick. The Lakers ranked near the bottom of the NBA in 3-point shooting and may need to scour the free-agent market for perimeter marksmen.And while Los Angeles boasts a much better defense than the Cavs had last year, the Lakers were similar to Cleveland in that they lacked a true rim-protecting presence on last season’s club. More than 30 percent of Lakers’ opponents shots came from within 3 feet of the basket, tied for the third-highest rate in the NBA last season, according to Basketball-Reference. (The Lakers also agreed to terms Sunday with JaVale McGee, who isn’t the most reliable on D. But he had his moments against James in the Finals and his wingspan helps him around the rim.)There would be at least one clear upside: After a year where James had to dominate the ball in Irving’s absence, he can now share that responsibility with second-year point guard Lonzo Ball. The two could connect quite frequently in transition, given that Ball is known for his uptempo style and long outlet passes, and James — looking to get a breather after some offensive possessions — will occasionally hang back and cherry-pick layups and dunks.Ball figures to be a part of the core going forward, even if the Lakers do push for Leonard. The Spurs — long seen as the league’s most straitlaced team — are rumored to lack interest in Ball, likely due to some of the off-court distractions that surround him. But having Leonard would carry obvious benefits. James — who hasn’t played on a roster without a prime-age All-Star-caliber teammate since the 2009-10 season2The 2015-16 season was the only one in that stretch where none of his teammates made the All-Star team, but Kyrie Irving only failed to make the roster because he was injured that year; his performance on his return was up to his usual standard. — wouldn’t have to shoulder nearly as much of the clutch-scoring burden. Perhaps more important: In a potential matchup with the Warriors, James wouldn’t necessarily have to defend Kevin Durant, as Leonard would be more than capable of handling that task.By no stretch of the imagination are the Lakers a force to be reckoned with yet. But after these last five years, the roughest dry spell in franchise history, this is a welcome shift. Depending on how aggressively Magic Johnson and the team’s front office handles the trade market, they could creep into Golden State’s rear-view mirror more quickly than many suspected. Nabbing LeBron James, even at damn-near 34 years old, will speed up just about any team’s process.— Neil Paine contributed to this story.CORRECTION (July 2, 2018, 12:25 p.m.): An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that LeBron James had not been on a team without at least one other prime-age All-Star since the 2009-10 season. In 2015-16, he was the only All-Star for the Cleveland Cavaliers.