The British Association Of Physicians Of Indian Origin (BAPIO) – which represents more than 500 Welsh-based doctors – meets in Cardiff on Saturday.About 200 delegates will discuss a recent review of the NHS in Wales and how to sustain it through innovations.The report will be discussed with Health Secretary Vaughan Gething.Kidney Wales chief executive Prof Roy J Thomas said the “strong contribution” of Welsh Indian medical professionals meant they were well placed to discuss a prudent health care system.Read it at BBC Related Items read more

Dasondi, owner of Cygate Software and Consulting, is accused of fraudulently sponsoring six people through his company in exchange for kickbacks. Proecutors allege that the six Indian nationals paid Dasondi over $503,000 over six years and he also agreed to sponsor them for green cards in exchange for $10,000 to $15,000 each. In return, Dasondi allegedly submitted false paperwork and issued paychecks and state and federal taxes. The six men operated their own businesses in Long Island, Chicago, Arizona and New Jersey.  Related Items read more

The Aligarh Muslim University administration has issued a show-cause notice to four students, including three Kashmiri PhD scholars, for staging a protest on the campus against the government clampdown in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday evening.University spokesperson Shafey Kidwai said, “A show-cause notice has been issued to Majid Butt, Sajjad Dar, Shafat Maqbool, and Mohd. Khalid for holding a protest on campus without permission.” Mr. Khalid, a postgraduate student, is not a Kashmiri. Prof. Kidwai said the administration had also asked them to explain the slogans raised during the protest. AMU has around 1,000 Kashmiri students.According to local sources, on Thursday, about 50-odd students peacefully marched to the university gates with placards asking for the lifting of communication blockade and easing of restrictions on travel in Kashmir.‘Undeclared emergency’Shakeel, a student of law faculty from Anantnag, said, “The aim of the protest was to make people outside the State aware of what their fellow citizens are going through, particularly when a large section of the media is not presenting the true picture. I have not been able to contact my parents for the last one month. It is a kind of undeclared ‘emergency’ in the Valley,” he alleged.He asked why such stringent curfew-like conditions are being imposed on the citizens when the government was repeatedly saying that things are normal.He maintained Article 370 was the “bond” between India and Kashmir and its abrogation has “alienated” even those who believe in peaceful dialogue.Another student, Saif, who left the Valley on August 16, said his father was a government servant. “I approached the local DSP. He allowed me to make a brief call to a friend in Aligarh. He booked my ticket from Srinagar to Delhi and sent me the PNR number. On its basis, I got the boarding pass. When I left, the curfew-like situation was worst for those in need of serious medical care,” he said.Mr. Saif said peaceful protest on campus was their democratic right even if permission was not granted. (Names of students quoted have been changed on request) read more

Vicente hopes for continuous volleyball program after Macandili plum Khyren Angela Bretana Dimaandal was one of the Malditas whose parents flew all the day from Manila just to catch the matches.READ: SEA Games: PH team stuns host Malaysia in women’s footballFEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutDimaandal’s mother said they even had to buy another set of plane tickets because the football schedule was changed at the last minute.“We just can’t miss her matches here in the SEA Games,” said the mother of Dimaandal, a BS Biology major at De La Salle. Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Flags of SEA Games countries raised at Athletes Village KUALA LUMPUR—The Philippine women’s football team, sporting a moniker that means “mean girls,” has got some very supportive parents backing their antics.Occupying a small section of the University of Malaya Stadium, the small crowd made up of mostly parents of the players were screaming their lungs out to cheer their daughters.ADVERTISEMENT Man sworn in as lawyer by judge who sentenced him to prison as a teen 20 years ago MOST READ LOOK: Venues for 2019 SEA Games LATEST STORIES UPLB exempted from SEA Games class suspension Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. PH billiards team upbeat about gold medal chances in SEA Games PLAY LIST 03:07PH billiards team upbeat about gold medal chances in SEA Games02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games05:25PH boxing team determined to deliver gold medals for PH00:50Trending Articles01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students03:04Filipino athletes share their expectations for 2019 SEA Games00:45Onyok Velasco see bright future for PH boxing in Olympics02:25PH women’s volleyball team motivated to deliver in front of hometown crowd01:27Filipino athletes get grand send-off ahead of SEA Games Catriona Gray spends Thanksgiving by preparing meals for people with illnesses SEA Games in Calabarzon safe, secure – Solcom chief WATCH: Streetboys show off slick dance moves in Vhong Navarro’s wedding Yet it was the parents, brother— and grand parents — of Anicka Chabeli Arrieta Castaneda and Sara Isobel Arrieta Castaneda who handily won the award of “stage folks.”The Castaneda family flew in full force including mother Deedee and father Conz and brother Daniel. Their grand parents are also in tow.Sara, 20, is an Early Childhood Studies major at La Salle Taft, while Anicka, 17, is high school senior at La Salle Zobel.Their parents also joined the team in Tajikistan early this year when the Malditas nailed slot for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan next year.Unfortunately, the Malditas fell to four-time champion Vietnam (3-0) Thursday afternoon. But at 1-1, they still have a solid shot for medal.ADVERTISEMENT Read Next View comments read more

By Poonam Mehra Berlin, Apr 18 (PTI) He is not the one to be enamoured by the razzmatazz of T20 cricket and thats the reason why Ian Bothan thinks that India needs to understand that there is more to the game than the shortest format only. “I am disappointed with Indian cricket right now. Cricket is more than just a 20-over game, they need to understand that. Englands contests with India always used to excite me but right now, I dont know what to say,” the legendary all-rounder did not mince words during an interaction with Indian journalists on the sidelines of Laureus World Sports Awards. Bothams has some solid reasons to be disappointed as the last two away Test series in England saw India lose by 0-4 and 1-3 margins respectively. They have also lost a home Test series to England back in 2012. “Where is India going in Test cricket? Why is it happening to the team. Is it saturation of Twenty20? India needs to figure out,” Botham seemed baffled in the manner India has treated Test cricket. India may be ranked 3rd in the ICC Test rankings but that does not cut much ice with the veteran who has 5200 runs and 383 wickets in 102 Test matches for England. “Look I dont understand rankings. England, South Adrica and Australia are playing the best Test cricket to my mind,” he was forthright in his assessment. Botham was speaking on how well Australia and England have held on to their Test culture before expressing his disappointment with India, who are interestingly playing mostly Test cricket this year . “Australia has an established Big Bash, its pretty well fitted in the calendar. England is also alright with a proper set up. Look you can have Twenty20 matches but it cannot be week in and week out. People get bored of it,” he said. England are scheduled to tour India in November-December this year to play five Test matches. “That should be a good series, I am looking forward to it because England have been doing really well. They have revamped the system, gone to factory settings and are looking good,” he said. PTI PM KHS KHSadvertisement read more

Nawanshahr(Pb), Aug 19 (PTI) Nawanshahr tehsildar Vipan Bhandari today reached his office allegedly in an inebriated condition.This infuriated the public present there as they were made to wait for him the entire day. The local people reportedly approached the deputy commissioner who then sent the SDM there.Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal said he had received the complaint and action would be taken against the official after an enquiry. PTI corr VJ DKS RG

Pakistan stand-in Test captain Azhar Ali was fined his full match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the second Test against New Zealand on Tuesday.Pakistan lost its last nine wickets in the last session to lose in Hamilton by 138 runs and also lost the two-match series 2-0.The ICC said match referee Richie Richardson imposed the fine on Azhar after Pakistan was ruled to be five overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration. (New Zealand stun Pakistan to sweep Test series)Pakistan team players were also fined 20 percent of their match fees. The ICC also said that Azhar pleaded guilty and accepted the proposed sanctions.Azhar replaced regular captain Misbah-ul-Haq for the second Test after the ICC suspended Misbah for one Test match for maintaining a slow over-rate during Pakistan’s first Test loss in Christchurch. Misbah was banned for one Test match because it was his second offense during the 12-month period.Misbah would have missed the second Test in any case as he flew back home because of death of his father-in-law. read more

PHOENIX — As if wishing made it so, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell described his league — and himself — as having addressed missteps on difficult matters such as domestic violence and being ready to move on.“As an organization, and as an individual, it’s been a tough year,” Goodell said Jan. 30 during his pre-Super Bowl news conference, “but a year of great progress, and I’m excited about the future.”Nearing the end of a season he acknowledged was filled with “plenty of challenges,” Goodell was asked whether he thought he deserved a pay cut — “That’s up to the owners,” he replied — and whether he could envision resigning or being fired.“No, I can’t. Does that surprise you?” Goodell said. “We’ve all done a lot of soul-searching, beginning with yours truly. And we have taken action.”Goodell brushed aside a question about whether there are conflict-of-interest problems with paying those who head up “independent” investigations, such as into the league’s handling of the Ray Rice case or the ongoing look at the New England Patriots’ use of deflated footballs in the AFC title game.“We have had people who have had uncompromising integrity” run those inquiries, Goodell said. Then, speaking directly to the reporter, he added: “Somebody has to pay them … unless you’re volunteering, which I don’t think you are.”Rice is the former Baltimore Ravens running back who punched his now-wife in an elevator, drawing an initial suspension from Goodell of two games.Goodell changed that to an indefinite ban after video from inside the elevator was posted by TMZ. Rice later appealed, and an arbitrator reinstated him.That and other domestic violence cases led the league to design a new personal conduct policy, which was approved unanimously by owners but has been criticized by the players’ union.“We’ve made enormous progress,” Goodell said. “We’re in a good place.”On the main topic of conversation heading into Super Bowl week — the deflated footballs used by the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game — Goodell said: “Whether a competitive advantage was actually gained or not is secondary in my mind to whether that rule was violated.”A resolution will not come until after the Super Bowl. “We don’t know enough in this investigation to know who was responsible or whether there was even an infraction,” Goodell said.Patriots owner Robert Kraft has said he expects the investigation to determine his team did nothing wrong — and he expects an apology from the NFL. Kraft did not attend Friday’s news conference.Another issue that won’t be resolved until after the season’s final game, Goodell said, is whether Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch will be fined for refusing to answer any questions at required media sessions this week. The NFL docked Lynch $100,000 earlier this season for not talking to reporters.“I understand it may not be on the top of his list,” Goodell said, “but everyone else is cooperating, everyone else is doing their part.”On other topics, Goodell said:— Any club’s move to Los Angeles, without an NFL team for 20 years, would have to be approved by owners, and “there have been no determinations of us going to Los Angeles, any particular team going to Los Angeles or going to any particular stadium.”The St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers have been viewed as the teams most likely to try to head to L.A. Goodell also noted that San Diego needs a new stadium, as does Buffalo.— The league will take a look at possibly expanding instant replay reviews to include whether a penalty was committed and consider rotating officiating crews during the regular season. Crews currently work together all season long.— Adding more playoff teams is also on the table, but there are concerns, including “the risk of diluting our regular season and conflicting with college football in January.”— The league is hiring a chief medical officer to oversee health-related policies.___(HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Pro Football Writer)TweetPinShare0 Shares read more

By BEN HARRISIt took two years but the Queensland Chiefs have their revenge.In 2013, the Chiefs were left wondering what might have been when they were defeated 5-4 by New South Wales Mets.Two years later, the shoe was on the other foot.The Chiefs became the first Queensland team to win the women’s Elite Eight division at the National Touch League.They defeated the Mets 6-4 in the final.The Chiefs opened the game with two touchdowns but they were cancelled out by the Mets.It looked like the scores would remain at 2-all heading into half-time, but young gun Kimberley Sue See made sure the Chiefs had a one touchdown advantage.The Mets were the first to score 30 seconds into the second half courtesy of Stacey Lapham.As quickly as that touchdown was scored, the Chiefs got back in front through Elizabeth Campbell.Her touchdown brought on two more scores for her side – one each to Hayley Rogerson and Jemma Mi Mi.Kirstie Jenkins scored a touchdown for the Mets after the ball took a deflection off a Chiefs player.Down 6-4, the Mets threw everything at the Chiefs but the Peta Rogerson-led side had an answer for every attack.The Chiefs held on until the final whistle to record a historic victory.“It’s a great feeling. I am so happy for the girls, they’ve worked really hard,” Chiefs coach Craig Morrow said.“It’s been a really disruptive preparation but the way they played that game, they showed their true colours. They are a great bunch of girls and deserve everything they get.“People will tell you ‘you’ve got a great group of girls’ but at the end of the day, if you don’t have great team work, it means nothing.”Chiefs’ player Samantha Hopkin took home the double – named the player of the final and the player of the series.QUEENSLAND CHIEFS 6 (Kimberley Sue See, Kirsty Quince, Lucy Bolten, Jemma Mi Mi, Elizabeth Campbell, Hayley Rogerson touchdowns) def NEW SOUTH WALES METS 4 (Valentina Arena, Rachelle Davis, Kirstie Jenkins, Stacey Lapham touchdowns).Related LinksWomen’s Elite Eight read more

COLIN cowherd alabama walmartOn numerous occasions, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has told reporters that he has no interest in leaving Tuscaloosa for another job. FOX Sports radio host Colin Cowherd doesn’t seem to believe him.Monday, Cowherd discussed the topic of Saban potentially leaving for an NFL job – like the Indianapolis Colts head coaching gig. He thinks that if the offer were right, Saban would go. He also doesn’t believe that Saban’s wife’s preferences really factor into the decision..@ColinCowherd: Don’t be naïve. Nick Saban would leave for the NFL in a heartbeat if the job is right #HerdHere https://t.co/DX6ZM1ERTC— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 4, 2016There are going to be a number of NFL head coaching jobs opening up in the coming weeks. We’ll see if Saban entertains any of them. read more

Mrs. Simpson Miller said there is urgent need for greater focus on job creation, including through increased investment in developing countries. Mrs. Simpson Miller said that in less than one thousand days the Millennium Development Goals should be attained. Prime Minister noted that reforms that address public debt sustainability should be done. Story Highlights Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has told the international community that now is the time to take a stand and act in a manner that will not just fulfill the 2000 Millennium Declaration, but will also provide a meaningful and far reaching development framework to benefit all nations, as the many millions around the world living in poverty and inequity, need a clear message of hope.Mrs. Simpson Miller told the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly that with global unemployment expected to reach 202 million this year and an estimated 869 million working poor, 400 million of whom live in extreme poverty, there is urgent need for greater focus on job creation, including through increased investment in developing countries.“We need to provide more assistance for people to cope with daily life, as growth and prosperity are unevenly distributed and the most vulnerable are at risk of falling through the cracks, being overlooked and failing to achieve a decent quality of life. Social protection schemes should work effectively to provide for basic needs and encourage target groups to pursue self-advancement while facilitating empowerment and fostering greater inclusiveness,” she said.Turning to sustainable financing for development, the Prime Minister noted that reforms that address public debt sustainability should be done and in a manner that will assist Middle Income Developing Countries with the challenges they face.She also wants the UN to “review the classification system of middle income developing countries to ensure the utilization of more relevant and appropriate measures of development.”Mrs. Simpson Miller said that in less than one thousand days the Millennium Development Goals should be attained and that “we face many challenges including the global economic and financial crises, climate change, natural disasters, high levels of debt and conflict.  It is imperative for us to accelerate our efforts with the limited time remaining. Anything less would be a disservice to our people.”In a wide ranging but succinct statement, the Prime Minister told the 193-member body that they must all unite in an effort to eliminate the transnational scourge of human trafficking, to stamp it out wherever it exists and bring the perpetrators to justice and “ensure that in this modern time we do not have a re-enactment of slavery. Never again should anything resembling slavery be tolerated.”In wanting to protect future generations, Mrs. Simpson Miller implored that the development agenda for the next decade must redouble efforts to safeguard the rights of children and enhance their development.She told the General Debate  that despite limited resources, Jamaica makes every effort to meet its obligations to children and that “we condemn violence and abuse against our children and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the rights of children everywhere,”  as no child must be left behind. read more

Story Highlights World Bank Co-Task Team Leader for the YEDAI Project, Karlene Francis, in her remarks noted that her agency has been partnering with Jamaica on initiatives to grow animation, including the annual KingstOOn Animation Conference and Film Festival. The Youth Employment in the Digital Animation Industry (YEDAI) Project has been relocated to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) as part of a strategic move aimed at accelerating the growth of the local animation industry.Formerly housed in the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, the project seeks to foster innovation and support youth employment in animation.State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, said the decision was made to transfer the project “because we believe that under the OPM, which is focused on economic growth and job creation, we need to bring in all our strategic resources”.“We have also put the HEART Trust/NTA under OPM; we have aligned that with our HOPE programme, which is focused on youth unemployment,” he noted.“Now that we have all of these resources housed under the OPM with the attention and direction at the highest level of Government, we expect that the bureaucratic issues will be moved out as we see how we can get our animation industry right across the length and breadth of Jamaica,” he added.Mr. Green was addressing stakeholders on the opening of the two-day Jamaica Digital Screen Business Conference at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on May 24.Organised by the World Bank/Korean Trust Fund in collaboration with Youth Employment, the conference created an interface for industry-focused dialogue among business owners, policymakers, industry experts, academics and other animation stakeholders.Discussion focused on matters relating to intellectual property rights, creating a regulatory framework for the local animation industry, certification and standards for training programmes, and incentive schemes for investors and animation studios/businesses.The event was in keeping with the Government’s focus on supporting youth employment, innovation and entrepreneurship in the digital and animation industries in Jamaica.State Minister Green noted that the 11 youth information centres (YIC) across the island will be transformed into innovation centres, which, he said, “will focus a lot more on the digital economy.” The first Youth Innovation Centre is slated to open on May 31 in Westmoreland.“We have already received support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (to ensure) that we have the necessary technology, equipment and software installed into our centres,” he said.He noted that more rural youth will benefit from training in animation as part of the Government’s thrust to equip over 6,000 persons with such skills.Meanwhile, Mr. Green said he wants to see more animation used in the communication of Government programmes and policies similar to the iCat character used by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica in its public education initiatives.He said his Ministry has begun exploring ways to make this possible.In his remarks, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Jamaica, Ambassador Young Gyu Lee, said his country has been supporting Jamaica’s animation sector through the Korea Trust Fund (KTF)/World Bank partnership.“A Jamaican delegation, including animators, visited Korea for idea sharing and consultation and participation in internship programmes. Korean animation specialists also came to Jamaica to assist in training programmes for some Jamaicans,” he noted.The Korean Ambassador indicated that his country “thinks of Jamaica as a valuable cooperative partner and will continue to pay attention to its development in animation”.He expressed the hope that the conference will enable the sharing of insights “so that Jamaica gets more ideas for animation development”.World Bank Co-Task Team Leader for the YEDAI Project, Karlene Francis, in her remarks noted that her agency has been partnering with Jamaica on initiatives to grow animation, including the annual KingstOOn Animation Conference and Film Festival.For her part, YEDAI Project Manager, Margery Newsome, urged participants to take full advantage of the conference, as it will enhance “collective knowledge and understanding of  global animation and take us closer to achieving our goal of building the local industry”. The Youth Employment in the Digital Animation Industry (YEDAI) Project has been relocated to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) as part of a strategic move aimed at accelerating the growth of the local animation industry. Meanwhile, Mr. Green said he wants to see more animation used in the communication of Government programmes and policies similar to the iCat character used by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica in its public education initiatives. read more

An important part of Nova Scotia’s industrial heritage will reopen on Saturday, Aug. 11, as a maintenance project nears completion at the Balmoral Grist Mill in Balmoral Mills, Colchester Co. Visitors will have access to the entire museum interior, including an observation area where the miller will continue his work to restore the mill machinery to operating status. Although the mill is expected to resume flour production next year, there is a wonderful and rare opportunity to see the ancient craft of the millwright in action this season. Outside, the walkway across the dam remains closed to visitors while the stairways on either side are rebuilt. “I encourage visitors to take a trip back in time and experience the mill and what life was like through the eyes of residents more than a century ago,” said Leonard Preyra, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. “This is what our museum system is all about, making life better for Nova Scotians by preserving our heritage for future generations.” Enhancements to the walking trails along the gorge and overlooking the mill provide an additional opportunity to experience the museum. “This is a beautiful section of trail in the neighbouring woods which showcases the natural surroundings of this historical setting,” said Mr. Preyra. The museum was closed last August to allow for repairs to the museum’s dam, walkway and support structure. Repairs were necessary to maintain safety and protect the natural environment of the museum and surrounding area. The total cost of the maintenance project was $1.1 million. Additional work was undertaken as a result of a structural assessment which identified $90,000 of improvements that are now complete. Admission to the Balmoral Grist Mill is free for the rest of the month of August. The museum was originally built in 1874 and is part of the Nova Scotia Museum, a network of 27 sites across the province. read more

The Canadian PressBATTLEFORD, Sask. – There were sobs of despair and cries of “murderer” in a Saskatchewan courtroom Friday night as a jury found a white farmer not guilty in the shooting death of an Indigenous man.From the beginning in August 2016, Colten Boushie’s death and the second-degree murder charge against Gerald Stanley exposed an ugly side in rural Saskatchewan – landowners who blame Indigenous people for high rates of property crime and First Nations who bear the brunt of that racism and hate.Those tensions were on full display as Stanley walked free after the verdict.Outside court, Boushie’s uncle Alvin Baptiste said there was no justice for his nephew.“How First Nations are treated in the justice system is not right,” he said.“A white jury came out with a verdict of not guilty of Gerald Stanley, who shot and killed my nephew. This is how they treat us First Nations people. It is not right. Something has to be done about this – the government, Justin Trudeau, we asked you to give us Indigenous people justice.”In a tweet late Friday, Trudeau expressed sadness for Boushie’s family.“I can’t imagine the grief and sorrow the Boushie family is feeling tonight,” he wrote from Los Angeles. “Sending love to them from the U.S.”The jury deliberated for 13 hours before reaching its decision.Stanley, 56, turned and looked into the gallery after the verdict came down while Boushie’s family and friends gasped and yelled. Shouts of “murderer” could be heard from those in the gallery.Boushie’s cousin Jade Tootoosis said the family will push for an appeal.“There was no justice served here today. We hoped for justice from Colten. However, we did not see it,” she said outside court.“We will fight for an appeal and answers to all the racism that my family has experienced from the day that Colten was shot, until the jury delivered the verdict of not guilty. We will not stop our pursuit for justice.”The trial heard that Boushie, from the Red Pheasant First Nation, was shot in the head while he was sitting in an SUV that had been driven onto Stanley’s farm near Biggar, Sask.The driver of the SUV testified the group had been drinking during the day and tried to break into a truck on a neighbouring farm, but went to the Stanley property in search of help with a flat tire.Stanley’s son testified that he and his father heard an ATV start up and they thought it was being stolen.Stanley testified that he fired warning shots to scare the group off. He said that the fatal shot occurred when he reached into the SUV to grab the keys out of the ignition and his gun “just went off.”The defence drilled into inconsistencies in the testimony of some of the witnesses who were in the SUV with Boushie.They admitted they lied to investigators about stealing and changed their stories right before taking the witness stand.The defence argued in its final summation that there was no evidence that Stanley meant to kill Boushie. Lawyer Scott Spencer said the shooting was a freak accident that ended in tragedy.Crown prosecutor Bill Burge disputed that, arguing that Stanley handled the firearm carelessly and that the only inference was that he pulled the trigger and fired the fatal shot.Burge said it was clearly an emotional case for the jury.“One side is very unhappy tonight, but there is never any winner in a case like this,” he said.“We were there to present the evidence. We didn’t leave anything out that would have made a difference. There was nothing more that could be done. We put it out there. The jury made their decision. That’s their duty and they took it seriously.”He said the Crown would consider whether there are grounds for an appeal.Neither Spencer nor Stanley commented Friday night.Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said there was no justice for Boushie.“We will never give up on justice for First Nations in Saskatchewan or anywhere else in Canada,” he wrote on Twitter. “Our Treaties are about maintaining peace and justice between Nations.”Racial tensions surrounding the case have been high since the shooting.Indigenous leaders were upset with an initial report from police that the young people had been taken into custody as part of a theft investigation. Boushie’s relatives said RCMP officers who came to the family home after the shooting were insensitive and treated them like suspects.On the other side, there were countless racist and hate-filled posts on social media. One municipal councillor wrote that Stanley’s “only mistake was leaving witnesses.” He later resigned.The highly charged atmosphere prompted then-premier Brad Wall to call for calm.“This must stop,” he wrote on Facebook. “These comments are not only unacceptable, intolerant and a betrayal of the very values and character of Saskatchewan, they are dangerous.”Tension continued as the trial began.The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Boushie’s family raised concerns because there were no visibly Indigenous jurors selected.There were more pleas for calm from politicians Friday night.“To all of those who are broken today, please, please remain peaceful,” said Kimberly Jonathan, a vice-chief with Saskatchewan’s Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.“It’s not us against them,” the vice-chief said. “We felt unsafe then and we’re still unsafe. Someone can say it’s an accident to shoot any one of us and they are found not guilty.“Let’s live peaceful, let’s coexist and live peacefully.”Premier Scott Moe asked people to be measured in their response.“I know there may be some strong reactions,” Moe said in a statement. “Let us all remember our personal responsibility for our thoughts, our actions, and our comments – including those on social media.“Let us continue to demonstrate consideration, patience, and understanding for one another as we move forward together in reconciliation.” read more

Council voted in favour for City staff to bring forward more information to the next meeting, for further review before adopting the policy. To read a copy of the draft policy, click here.Watch the full discussion and presentation to Council belowSnow Removal Jan 7 201900:00/49:51 LIVE00:00undefinedNext Video× FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Fort St. John City Council was recently presented with the draft policy for Snow Removal at a Committee of the Whole meeting.Victor Shopland,  General Manager of Integrated Services, and Jeremy Garner, Director of Public Works and Utilities, gave Council a presentation on the current performance of snow removal in Fort St. John.The purpose of the policy is to establish priorities for snow and ice control within the transportation corridors and other designated snow and ice control areas of the City of Fort St. John. Within the presentation, Garner noted that the City is not able to meet the existing policy directive with its current resources. He says the ongoing process of snow removal has worked well but is now dealing with ageing equipment.“This process of using graders and snow blowers worked really well, it leaves the street clean from curb to curb, and the snow is neatly placed on the boulevard. It is, however, very slow, it can take the crews up to five weeks to clear the entire city from curb to curb and this, in turn, frustrates many residents due to the time it takes. These 5250 snowblowers that were inexpensive to purchase, however, have reached end of life.”In 2018, the City was $450,000 over budget when it came to snow removal. Shopland says they will have to be more prudent on spending in the 2019 budget.“We certainly have to be very prudent in our budget and contracting lease for the next year, the 2019 year, to ensure that we stay within that amount.”While the City did not go into the snowfall reserve in 2018, the question that Council will have to discuss further is whether or not the City will have enough in the snowfall reserve as the population continues to grow.The draft policy is also looking at some changes as to what areas are considered high priority in the snow removal process and review the measurement of snow that should be removed off commercial and residential streets. In addition, they will look at the upgrading and replacement of equipment. read more

“The participation of men and women across the country demonstrates, once again, the commitment of the Afghan people to shape the future of their country and to reject violence and intimidation,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement from his spokesperson. The presidential election marks the first-ever transfer of power from one elected leader to another in Afghan history. Voters were choosing between Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai to succeed President Hamid Karzai. Neither of the candidates achieved the necessary 50 per cent plus one result on 5 April.“With the same determination, resilience and courage the world saw in the first round of elections, the people of Afghanistan today once again decided to take their destiny in their own hands and demonstrate their desire for a peaceful, prosperous, and united Afghanistan,” said Mr. Ban’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ján Kubiš. “For this, they should be congratulated.”Mr. Kubiš, who is also the head of the UN Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA), also praised the “competence and dedication” of the Afghan National Security Forces, who enabled voting to take place without major disruptions.With the votes now to be counted, Mr. Kubiš urged the candidates to make national unity and inclusivity their top priorities to serve the interests of the Afghan people. Any reports of irregularities will be addressed by the election management bodies – the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC).Visiting a polling centre in the capital, Kabul, Deputy Special Representative Nicholas Haysom said the election is not perfect, nor is it ever in any country, and while the UN expects there to be some complaints “we have faith and hope that the election management bodies will be able to deal with those complaints in a way which satisfies the Afghan people”. The UN Mission had said that the IEC and the IECC improved the electoral process in response to requests and recommendations from candidates and observers.They are now expected to “tally the votes in a transparent and accountable manner, resolve complaints consistently and efficiently, and to transparently release the results,” Mr. Kubiš said. “This vital work should be done with the utmost integrity and impartiality to protect the vote and to deal with complaints in a way that will satisfy the Afghan people,” he said, urging both candidates and supporters to respect the mandate and independence of the IEC and the IECC. “Allow due process to take its course and respect the work of the Commissions, and accept the final results,” he urged.Mr. Haysom echoed Mr. Kubiš, saying both candidates need to leave the resolution of disputes and complaints between them to the election management bodies. “There is a great responsibility on both candidates to behave as statesmen and not behave like sportsmen – it’s not a World Cup, it’s a contest for the leadership of the country,” the deputy added.He stressed also the election was “Afghan-administered, owned and managed”. “In comparison to other elections anywhere we can say it has provided a significant opportunity for Afghans themselves to ensure that elections are free and fair.” read more

Despite winning three games in a row, Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has warned his players to keep their feet on the ground as they aim to avoid a relegation battle.Three successive victories against Watford, Bournemouth, and Burnley have lifted Newcastle United to 13th place in the Premier League table, but Benitez has warned his players not to get carried away with their recent run of form.It was a slow start for the Magpies as they failed to win in their first 10 league matches this season, and now they are just six points from the top half of the table.Virgil van Dijk praises Roberto Firmino after Liverpool’s win Andrew Smyth – September 14, 2019 Virgil van Dijk hailed team-mate Roberto Firmino after coming off the bench to inspire Liverpool to a 3-1 comeback win against Newcastle United.“It is always important to win. But when you win games in a row it is even better,” Benitez told Sky Sports.“We need to keep going and I told the players that we have done nothing yet. It is a very long league and you need to keep winning games.“I said last year 40 points [we need], this year maybe 36 but it is still a long race.” read more

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) – The Live Like Bella Foundation is bringing the joy of the holidays to pediatric cancer patients in South Florida.The Live Like Bella Foundation, along with Bomnin Chevrolet, collected toys to donate to pediatric cancer patients at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Wednesday.The presents were delivered with a little help from ol’ Saint Nick.“It’s a real blessing to be here today with Live Like Bella, giving to these kids this amount of toys,” said Arnaldo Bomnin of Bomnin Chevrolet. “Thank God we’ve got more toys than kids today! It’s a real blessing. The best blessing we can receive at Christmas.”Along with getting gifts, the kids were able to meet Santa and even have their faces painted.Live Like Bella was founded in 2013 in memory of Bella Rodriguez-Torres, who died of cancer at the age of 10 from rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. In her six-year battle, she inspired millions to #LiveLikeBella.The foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric cancer by funding innovative pediatric cancer research. Copyright 2019 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. read more

Ethnic Rakhine rebels carried out pre-dawn attacks on four police stations near the Bangladesh border in a strike confirmed Friday by both the rebel group and Myanmar’s army, with the militants claiming to have killed seven and taken 14 “prisoners of war” as operations ramped up.Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine has seen a surge in violence in recent weeks between rebels from the Arakan Army (AA) and security forces, displacing thousands.It has added a new dimension to the violence in an area already scored by deep ethnic and religious enmity, which saw hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims forced over the border by a bloody army crackdown in 2017.The AA is calling for greater autonomy for the ethnic Rakhine Buddhist population in what is one of the country’s poorest states.Friday morning’s attacks took place in Buthidaung township in the north of Rakhine state, army spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun told AFP.“We can confirm that the attack on the four police stations was by the AA,” he said, adding that the army immediately sent a support team and that fighting continued into the afternoon.The AA told AFP that it had carried out the raids, blaming the military for using the police stations as a base from which to fire heavy artillery.“The army brought the police into the war two weeks ago,” AA spokesman Khine Thukha said by phone, adding that the group had been under fire the whole day from army helicopters.“Seven enemy combatants were killed. When we seized the posts, they surrendered and we took 14 prisoners of war,” he said, adding that two AA fighters had also been killed in the clashes.The military was unable to give any information about casualty numbers.The UN’s humanitarian agency said Thursday it was concerned for the estimated 2,500 people currently displaced, many of whom are sheltering in local monasteries.The AA was sidelined by an unexpected temporary ceasefire declared unilaterally by Myanmar’s military two weeks ago.The army vowed to stop fighting for four months against a number of armed groups in Kachin and Shan states on the other side of the country.Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi made the peace process a priority when her party swept to power in landmark 2015 elections.Some two dozen conflicts continue to fester around the country’s border areas, many dating back to independence 70 years ago.The AA has said the army is using the truce elsewhere to focus efforts on Rakhine.But observers say no major troop redeployments have yet taken place.The escalation of violence comes amid a series of unclaimed attacks and murders in recent weeks in northern Rakhine.Unknown assailants murdered a policeman, while two ethnic Rakhine were found with their throats slit, prompting the army to launch localised “clearance operations”. read more

Residents celebrated the eight annual Boundary Block Party. (Courtesy Photo)On a sunny Saturday afternoon nearly 1,000 people gathered in a crowded park in West Baltimore. Over the course of three hours, residents celebrated the eighth annual Boundary Block Party with dance, music, resources and community advocacy. Residents gathered in the same West Baltimore community that has seen headlines, turmoil and unrest since the tragic death of Freddie Gray.“I think it [the block party] is important to show that organizations are still standing despite of the tragedies, no one is afraid to still come together.  This shows that Sandtown is still standing strong,” said William Scipio a life-long Sandtown resident and president of the Resident Action Committee.“After all of the negativity that was shown on the TV, I wanted people to come and see what Sandtown is really about, how we do work together. That, even in the midst of hard times, we can still pull together and do what needs to be done.  And it was amazing,” said Amelia Harris Co-founder of Newborn Community of Faith Church.Attendees enjoyed free food that was donated to the community for the block party.  Performers included the New Baltimore Twilighters marching band and the Baltimore Show Stoppers. Residents learned more about community organizations, bought produce from local urban farms and registered to vote. Students from Jubilee Arts, a community arts center on Pennsylvania Avenue, showed off their funky fashion creations, ceramic mosaics, line dances and ballet routines.The block party was organized by The No Boundaries Coalition and Jubilee Arts.  The No Boundaries Coalition is a resident-led advocacy organization that has been working to improve public safety and increase police accountability in West Baltimore. Since Freddie’s Gray’s death, the coalition has launched a door knocking and listening campaign in Sandtown that has reached over 250 residents.  Residents are calling for increased police accountability, safer street, jobs and more opportunities for young people.The No Boundaries Coalition is also hosting a public hearing on police misconduct in West Baltimore, 12 noon, May 16, at Sharon Baptist Church in partnership with Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD), Greater Baltimore Urban League, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The group intends to document the pattern of police misconduct in West Baltimore to push for policy change.“For those of us that have lived here all of our lives and have many of the same type of stories, we recognize that JUSTICE will not come by way of conviction, but by putting legislation in place that addresses the pattern of injustices once and for all,” said Ray Kelly, No Boundaries Coalition president. read more