Extend NRC to all States and seal border: Sonowal
Defending the National Register of Citizens exercise, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday recommended such an exercise in all States.“The unabated influx from Bangladesh cannot be seen as a standalone problem of Assam. Assam accounts for just a fraction of the total number of illegal immigrants in the country,” Mr. Sonowal said at a seminar, ‘NRC: defending the borders, defending the culture.’ “Census reports also reveal that population increased in the last few decades in many States, including West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Meghalaya, far beyond the national average. So this highlights the intensity of influx of illegal immigrants in India. Even the national capital city of Delhi and other metro cities in India have started experiencing the evil of illegal migration.“Besides being a security risk, they influence politics and eat into the already constrained resources of a developing country. Foreign infiltrators are trying to snatch our rights while staying in our country. This is a big challenge. To face it, I think it is very necessary to have NRC in each State.”He said every State should do it. “If we complete the work of NRC in Assam and if they shift from Assam to another State, what will happen to that State?”He said with the land swap deal with Bangladesh done, the border should be completely sealed. Mr. Sonowal sought to assure the people that government would protect genuine citizens.Started in 1951Speaking after Mr. Sonowal, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said the NRC exercise was started by the Nehru government in 1951 to address the illegal immigration problem. But it was never completed because of “vote bank politics.”Taking a dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he said, “The great grandson should read history.”He said the U.S., with a larger land area and smaller population, was fencing the Mexico border; Saudi Arabia expelled 7500 Pakistanis, who were their co-religionists; and Bangladesh was in negotiations with Myanmar to deport Rohingya Muslims.However, Mr. Madhav invoked India’s “2000-year-old tradition” of giving refuge to persecuted refugees, like the Parsis, and said the country would be sympathetic to Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh or Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh, drawing a subtle distinction between immigrants.Asserting that the NRC exercise was not biased, he said it was Supreme Court-monitored, was transparent as it only sought any one of 15 documents and verified them in digital form from the source. He said that objections could be filed before the final NRC draft came and even after that, those who thought they were wrongly left out could approach the Foreigners’ Tribunal and then the High Court.
The Congress on Thursday served notices to 11 leaders in Uttar Pradesh for “unnecessarily opposing” the party over the revamp of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) in October. The sharply-worded notice asked them to reply to the charges against them within 24 hours. A U.P. Congress press release said the notices were sent by the State unit’s disciplinary committee on the instructions of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is the general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh (East), and UPCC chief Ajay Kumar Lallu. They were served notices in view of their acts of indiscipline, it said. The 11 leaders are mostly old-timers, disgruntled after the reorganisation of the UPCC on October 7 when Mr. Lallu replaced Raj Babbar as the State unit’s president. They include an AICC member, former Ministers, a district unit chief and one-time MLAs. “It has come to the notice of the disciplinary committee through newspapers that you have been continuously and unnecessarily opposing the AICC decisions concerning the UPCC publicly by holding meetings,” the notice said. “Through these meetings and statements in the media, the image of the Congress party has been tarnished. This was not expected from senior leaders like you,” it added. “This behaviour of yours is against the policies and ideas of the party .These actions come under the ambit of indiscipline. You have been given 24 hours time to give your clarification as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against you,” it said. Earlier, All India Congress Committee secretary Dhiraj Gurjar said in New Delhi that the party will take action if there is indiscipline, whatever the seniority of the Congress member. The move comes after the absence of several party veterans from two recent meetings called by the UPCC chief in Lucknow.Move to meet Sonia Instead, the disgruntled veterans have been holding their own meetings. They had also planned to meet party president Sonia Gandhi as a delegation to voice their grievances. Those served notices include former MP Santosh Singh, former MLC Siraj Mehdi, former Ministers Ram Krishna Dwivedi and Satyadev Tripathi and AICC member Rajendra Singh Solanki.
The CVC Thomas affair seems to have pushed the government to be extra-cautious in selecting the next Central Vigilance Commissioner.To avoid a repeat of the extremely embarrassing situation the government faced when the Supreme Court struck as invalid P.J. Thomas’s appointment as CVC, the government has hand-picked a staggering number of 28 “highly-regarded” IAS officers and other public servants.Usually, the panel of candidates is restricted to three- four or, at the most, five names. The unprecedented list is clearly to widen the choice before the selection panel.The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has sent this mammoth list for consideration of the three members of the high- level panel – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, home minister P. Chidambaram and leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj. The panel is expected to meet either on June 19 or June 20 to decide on who is to be India’s next CVC. The need for such a mammoth panel of candidates has arisen because of the controversy over the selection of P. J. Thomas as CVC. The government appointed him despite objections raised by the leader of the Opposition in a meeting convened on September 3, 2010.Swaraj had pointed out to the PM and the home minister that there was a case pertaining to the Palmolein oil scandal pending against Thomas, who was one of the three officers recommended for the post.At that time, the government overruled her objection only to have the entire process invalidated by the Supreme Court. The apex court declared Thomas’s appointment as invalid necessitating another round of selection for the post of the top vigilance officer.advertisementAccordingly, the DoPT has finalised the list of candidates for the post and sent it to the high- powered selection panel.Foremost among the officers recommended by the DoPT is outgoing home secretary G. K. Pillai. Pillai is to retire on June 30. Former DoPT secretary Shantanu Kansal, an officer with a formidable reputation, who was also secretary to the PM- appointed V. K. Shunglu committee to probe the Commonwealth Games scam, is too a part of the list. Former finance secretary Ashok Chawla too finds a mention as does Bijoy Chatterjee, secretary, chemicals and fertilizers whose name had figured in the panel suggested last time when Thomas was chosen by the government. The present DoPT secretary Alka Sirohi too finds a mention in the list.Former secretary, legislative affairs V. K. Bhasin too is part of the panel recommended by the DoPT, as is Vijaylakshmi Gupta, secretary, defence finance. Former urban development secretary M. Ramachandran who was also one of the frontrunners for the cabinet secretary’s post, also features in the panel.The list has been duly prepared by a secretary- level officer, as per the Supreme Court directions on the basis of rational criteria reflected by recording of reasons and noting akin to reasons by the empanelling authority. As there was confusion about whether the high- level selection panel was aware of the chargesheet against P. J. Thomas despite the leader of the Opposition mentioning this fact during the selection panel’s meeting, the parameters for selection, as well as the service files of the officers, are expected to be sent to the panel members this time.For more news on India, click here.For more news on Business, click here.For more news on Movies, click here.For more news on Sports, click here.
AFC U-19 Championship quafootballIndiaindian football First Published: November 6, 2019, 11:43 PM IST Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox – subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what’s happening in the world around you – in real time. Al Khobar: India began their 2020 AFC U-19 Championship qualification campaign on a disappointing note as they suffered a 0-2 defeat against Uzbekistan here on Wednesday.After a goal-less first session, the Uzbeks scored twice in the second half to pick up the three points. The match began with India earning the first chance of the game in the second minute. Gurkirat Singh latched on to a loose ball in the middle and charged towards goal, but his effort was off target.Goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill, wearing the captain’s armband, was called into action three minutes later as he dealt with a cross from the left flank with confidence.An important source of attacking threat for India was fullback Muhammed Rafi with his booming long throws into the penalty area. It almost paid dividends at the first attempt in the 16th minute with Uzbekistan needing a desperate clearance to get rid of the danger.Six minutes later, there was another opportunity, this time through Vikram Partap Singh. Rafi’s throw-in wreaked havoc once again and after a weak effort from the Uzbek defence, the Indian forward looked to power home a first-time effort which went just wide of the goal.Another chance came India’s way through forward Manvir Singh at the half-hour mark. With the Uzbekistan building from the back, the Indian attackers pressed with vigour to force the defence into committing mistakes as a clearance almost went into the net after rebounding off Manvir.Uzbekistan also created a number of chances but were denied by Gill, who stood tall at the Indian goal and repelled whatever was thrown at him.The Central Asian side’s best chance of the first half came in the 19th minute from a corner but Gill was alert to dive low and save the first-time shot. He was called upon yet again with two minutes to go for the break as he turned away a shot from distance from midfielder Ramozonov Diyor.After the break, Uzbekistan won a free-kick in a dangerous area in the 52nd minute, with the shot hitting the Indian wall and going out of play. However, just a minute later, Khoshimov Ulugbek opened the scoring for Uzbekistan, converting a low cross from the right.Gill produced a fine save in the 63rd minute as he pushed away a powerful effort from long range from Rakhimkulov Diyorbek. However, he could not do much as the Uzbeks scored again, this time through Olimjonov Muzaffar, who struck a first-time volley from close range.The Indian team threw more men forward in search for a goal and came closest to scoring in the 80th minute, with Sumit Rathi getting his head to a long throw but his effort flew over the crossbar.Vikram won India a free-kick a minute before the end of regulation time. Ninthoi went for goal and his effort was a strong one but was saved by Uzbek custodian Nematov Abduvakhid.India play hosts Saudi Arabia at the same venue on Friday. 
Alastair Cook silenced his critics in style by smashing his fifth Test double hundred during the third day of the Boxing Day Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.Cook’s majestic knock has put England in a commanding position against Australia finishing the day at 491/9 with an overall lead of 164 on Thursday.Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke praised Cook’s grit and “mental strength” during his superlative innings.”Say what you want, think what you want but that is a brilliant 200 from Alastair Cook. I think that is the best I have ever seen him bat. Very happy for him. Amazing mental strength and courage to walk out and play the way he has with his back against the wall,” Clarke said.Say what you want, think what you want but that is a brilliant 200 from Alastair Cook. #ashes #MCG https://t.co/5YvKBt8Blb- Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 28, 2017Cook had a torrid time in Australia this time until his 244 not out off 409 balls with a series of low scores — 2, 7, 37, 16, 7 and 14 — in the first three matches hurting England big time.His miserable run in the first three Tests also cost England the Ashes which they surrendered to Australia after losing by an innings and 41 runs at WACA to go 3-0 down in the five-match series.England all-rounder Ben Stokes, who was ruled out of the Ashes squad due an investigation into a pub brawl in late September, took to Twitter to laud the former captain’s big double century.Cook smashed a straight drive past bowler Jackson Bird for his 23rd four to raise his fifth double-century in 360 balls, triggering a standing ovation from the crowd of 61,839.advertisementIt was not a chanceless innings, however, with Australia captain Steve Smith dropping him on 66 on Wednesday and again on 153.The pitch was a batsman’s paradise and the Australian attack shorn of injured spearhead Mitchell Starc, but England’s most prolific run-scorer may remember few more gratifying innings in his 151 Tests.”You’r my favourite player Alastair Cook,” Stokes tweeted.Through 10 hours of hard graft and 409 deliveries, the former England skipper mowed down Viv Richards’s 208 to set the highest score by a touring batsman at the MCG.Cook, who now has 11,956 Test runs, moved past another two West Indies greats to be sixth on the all-time Test runs list, eclipsing Shivnarine Chanderpaul (11,867) and then Brian Lara (11,953) with a sumptuous off-drive for four from the penultimate ball of the day.(With inputs from Reuters)
Indian chess Grand Master and five time World Champion Viswanathan Anand won bronze at the King Salman World Blitz Championship at Riyadh, two days after he won the World Rapid Chess Championship.It was World Champion GM Magnus Carlsen who won the tournament, scoring 16 points out of the maximum possible 21 points, as Sergey Karjakin came in second with 14.5 points.On Saturday, the second day of the championship, Anand won five games and drew five. His only loss in the championship was to the Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi.Carlsen on the other hand had lost two games in the championship and won the title well ahead of the others to prove his superiority over competition.Anand too had seven points and his 7.5 points in the last 10 games was good enough for a tied 2nd place with Sergey Karjakin of Russia. Karjakin was a bit out of shape as he could muster just 5.5 points on the final day and ended on 14.5 points like Anand.Anand started the 12th round with a victory over Etienne Bacrot of France and also defeated Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia, Baadur Jobava of Georgia and Tigran Petrosian of Armenia.Among other Indians in the fray, P Harikrishna and Vidit Gujrathi did well to end on 12.5 points apiece, B Adhiban ended on 11 while Surya Shekhar Ganguly and S P Sethuraman finished with 10 points apiece.(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
MONTREAL — Dale Weise has never been so hot, all least in the NHL.The Montreal winger scored his eighth goal of the season and the Canadiens got a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Nov. 5.Weise was only ever known as a scoring star when he had 48 points in 19 games in the Netherlands during the 2011-12 lockout — there, he earned the nickname “Dutch Gretzky.”Now the 27-year-old has taken over the team lead in goals, only two short of his career high of 10 set last season, with five in the last four games.“I don’t really pay attention to individual stats,” Weise said. “I’m just glad our line is playing well and contributing the way we are. “We’re scoring some big goals for our team.”Weise and linemates David Desharnais and Tomas Fleischmann each have six points in the last four games.Desharnais and Brendan Gallagher scored 1:33 apart in the third period and Tomas Plekanec added an empty-net goal for Montreal. The Canadiens are 3-0-1 since Mike Condon replaced injured Carey Price as the starting goaltender and 12-2-1 overall.Kyle Okposo scored and the Islanders lost for the fourth time in five games, including two overtime defeats. Isles captain John Tavares returned from missing three games with an illness and had a few chances, including missing an open net from the doorstep, but was kept off the scoresheet.A tight-checking game turned on a lucky break at 6:22 of the third period when a puck went off linesman Michel Cormier and set up a 2-on-1. Fleischmann then fed Desharnais for the go-ahead goal.“Obviously they got a break there,” Okposo said. “We hadn’t given them a lot offensively.“They didn’t have much going. It was a kind of a ping-pong match, but they got a break when they needed it.”“It’s unbelievable — it happens in Buffalo (a 2-1 loss on Nov. 1) and it happened again,” Isles coach Jack Capuano said. “I thought we had a good game plan and we played a good hockey team really well. It’s too bad it came down to that.”Montreal had a 24-18 shot advantage and beat former Canadiens goaltender Jaroslav Halak for only the second time in six meetings.The Canadiens have not skipped a beat since Price suffered an undisclosed injury last week in Edmonton. Condon, a 25-year-old rookie from Needham, Massachusetts, has allowed nine goals in six games. He is 5-0-1 with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage.“His saves aren’t miraculous, his positioning is excellent,” Montreal coach Michel Therrien said. “He’s been able to work with the best goalie in the world and that also helps.”Weise was in the slot to redirect Jeff Petry’s feed past Halak on a power play at 18:50 of the first period.The Canadiens had just killed a penalty when Okposo skated through the defense into the slot and beat Condon with a wrist shot 3:35 into the second frame.After Desharnais scored, Gallagher was on the doorstep to deflect Max Pacioretty’s shot between Halak’s pads at 7:55.Plekanec got his sixth of the season into an empty net at 17:57. TweetPinShare0 Shares
Pacer James Anderson feels it will be difficult for England to dominate a much-improved Virat Kohli in their five-match Test series that begins at Edgbaston on Wednesday.Kohli endured a horrific series in England in 2014. In 10 innings he could only manage 134 runs as India succumbed to a 1-3 loss in the Test series.The right-handed batsman struggled against England’s swing bowlers as they troubled him on the off stump line. Kohli was caught behind the stumps on six occasions with James Anderson dismissing him four times in 10 innings.However, since then Kohli has broken numerous batting records, establishing himself as one of the best batsmen going around.In 37 Tests since the disastrous 2014 tour, Kohli has scored 15 centuries, including six double hundreds. During this period, Kohli has amassed 3699 runs at an incredible average of 64.89 and has also scored 7 fifties.Virat Kohli since England Tests of 2014: 15 hundreds, 3699 runs in 37 TestsAsked if Anderson could have a similar impact against Kohli when the two teams face off again, the pacer told Sky Sports: “Not really… it’s a long time ago, a lot of cricket has happened since then and he’s improved as a player in that time.”You can’t pay any attention to that at all… it’s not about what’s gone on in the past, that’s not going to help me get him out this week, it’s about what I do and what the team does in the next six weeks.”Anderson, who picked up 25 wickets when the two teams met in England in 2014, could beat Australian Glenn McGrath’s record for most test wickets by a fast bowler should he replicate that form. Anderson currently has 540 wickets, 23 shy of McGrath.advertisementVirat Kohli in with a chance to upstage Steve Smith as best Test batsmanHowever, the Lancastrian was keen to stress that his focus was on suppressing India’s talented batting line-up led by Kohli as England look to win their first test series in four.”We’ve got to perform brilliantly, Kohli is an outstanding player, he just gets better and better every year. To be honest, they’ve got a brilliant batting line-up and we’ve got to be on top form to be able to beat them,” Anderson added.Anderson’s comments on Kohli come as a surprise as it’s quite different to his stand on the Indian captain.Despite Kohli scoring 655 runs in five Tests against England in the 2016/17 home series, Anderson had said that Kohi’s technical flaws are not visible because of the helpful Indian tracks which lack pace and movement.”I am not sure if Virat Kohli has changed. I just think any technical deficiencies he has got are not in play out here. The wickets just take that out of the equation. There is not that pace in the wicket to get the nicks, like we did against him in England – with a bit more movement,” Anderson said at a press conference last year.Writing off Virat Kohli is the biggest mistake: Dale Steyn to India TodayThe pacer had also said last week that Kohli would be desperate to score runs in England after failing the last time.”For India to win here, of course it matters. Virat will be desperate to score runs for his team, as you would expect from the captain and one of the best players in the world,” Anderson said.England won the one-day international series between the teams 2-1 and lost the Twenty20 competition by the same margin earlier this month.
ESPN College GameDay was at UCF on Saturday morning, and Knights fans brought it, producing one of the best atmospheres of the year. Next week’s should be similar.College GameDay just announced on Saturday night that it’s heading to Columbus, Ohio ahead of next week’s big Ohio State vs. Michigan battle. The Buckeyes and Wolverines will play for the Big Ten East title.The all-important game almost wasn’t so important. Ohio State needed overtime to get past Maryland, while Michigan struggled with Indiana. But, both teams are 10-1 heading into the affair.College GameDay had options this week, but this is clearly the biggest game.You ready, Columbus?!Next up, it’s rivalry week and we’re headed to THE GAME. pic.twitter.com/MZJGvhVAhn— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 18, 2018Michigan’s lone loss came in the first week of the season – to No. 3 Notre Dame. Ohio State, meanwhile, dropped its only contest against Purdue a few weeks ago.Jim Harbaugh will be looking for his first win against Urban Meyer and Ohio State since taking the Michigan job.The winner will take on Northwestern in the Big Ten title game a week later. A win there could lead to a College Football Playoff berth.
Indo-Asian News Service TokyoAugust 17, 2019UPDATED: August 17, 2019 13:08 IST Indian women hockey team celebrating win (IANS Photo)HIGHLIGHTSPenalty corner specialist Gurjit Kaur’s brace helps Indian women’s hockey team beat Japan in olympic test eventIndians started the match well with an aggressive intent, and had a few opportunities in the opening 10 minutesThe third quarter saw India dominate the initial few minutes earning another penalty corner in the 35th minutePenalty corner specialist Gurjit Kaur scored a brace as the Indian women’s hockey team started their campaign at the Olympic test event with a resilient 2-1 victory over hosts Japan at the Oi Hockey Stadium here on Saturday.Gurjit gave India a 1-0 lead by scoring a goal in the ninth minute of the game, but the hosts equalised it in the 16th minute as Aki Mitsuhashi scored a field goal. However, in the 35th minute, Gurjit stepped up again to convert yet another penalty corner, which turned out to be the decisive goal in the match.The Indians started the match well with an aggressive intent, and had a few opportunities in the opening 10 minutes.It was in the ninth minute that India found themselves on the front foot, and ended up winning a penalty corner. The resulting drag-flick from Gurjit was struck beautifully and beat the Japanese goalkeeper Megumi Kageyama to give India an early lead.Both the teams — playing with 16 players in accordance with the Olympic Games guidelines — made swift and timely substitutions throughout the match and it was in the 16th minute that Japan’s substitution worked for them as Aki finished off a great team goal to equalise the scores.With majority of the attacks coming from the Indian team, the Japanese sat back and looked to counter-attack. The teams have played each other frequently in the past couple of years, which showed on the field as they understood each other’s tactics well, and it meant that the teams went into the half-time break level at 1-1.advertisementThe third quarter saw India dominate the initial few minutes earning another penalty corner in the 35th minute. A moment of magic from Gurjit saw India regain their one-goal advantage as the 23-year-old smashed the ball into the back of the net.The hosts tried to look for another equaliser in the remaining minutes, but could not convert their opportunities into goals. However, India defended resiliently in the closing stages to see victory.With the points on the board, India will now take on Australia on Sunday. It will be a tough outing for the Indian Eves as they have only registered one victory in their last 10 meetings with the Australians.Also Read | Dutee Chand laments lack of competition as Indian GP fails to provide tough test to athletesAlso see:For sports news, updates, live scores and cricket fixtures, log on to indiatoday.in/sports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for Sports news, scores and updates.Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn’t like in the comments Posted byNitin Kumar Next Gurjit Kaur’s brace helps Indian women beat Japan in Olympic test eventPenalty corner specialist Gurjit Kaur gave India a 1-0 lead by scoring a goal in the ninth minute of the game, but the hosts equalised it in the 16th minute as Aki Mitsuhashi scored a field goal. However, in the 35th minute, Gurjit stepped up again to convert yet another penalty corner, which turned out to be the decisive goal in the match.advertisement
You Should Read Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard’s Guide to Life Editors’ Recommendations The Best New Men’s Grooming Brands You Need to Know About There’s fashion and there’s safety gear, and never the twain shall meet, right? Wrong. A small SF-based clothing company known as Betabrand makes a collection of pants and shirts that straddle the line between safe and stylish.In broad daylight you wouldn’t be able to tell their Bike to Work collection from any other brand, but when night falls their gear really starts to stand out. Literally. Each item in the collection incorporates a hidden strip of highly-reflective material that helps you stay visible when you ride home after dusk.Take the britches for example. Every pair has reflective 3M tape sewn into the inseam and outseam of both legs, which can be revealed by simply rolling up the cuffs. There’s also a triangle flag pullout that deploys from the left rear pocket. But these pants are more than just flashy fabric. To make them ultra-functional and perfect for cyclists, Betabrand added a loop at the back waistband to hold a U-lock, a raised cut in the back to help cover your crack, and a true gusset at the crotch for more comfort while you ride (no more bulky seams where you don’t want them). Other biker-friendly goodies include an easy-access cell phone pocket and reinforced belt loops made especially for carabiner and key rings.Browse the entire Bike to Work collection here. The New Alex Mill Collection Is Packed With Your Fall Style Essentials Dickies 1922 Collection Offers Some of the Best Menswear Made in America West Skincare Is the Best New Grooming Product Line for Active Guys
zoomIllustration. Image Courtesy: Pixabay under CC0 Creative Commons license Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS closed 2018 with an increase in its earnings, mainly driven by the company’s route expansion in the Mediterranean. For the full-year 2018, revenue rose by 10 percent to DKK 15.7 billion (USD 2.4 billion), while EBITDA increased by 11 percent to DKK 3 billion.In Q4, revenue increased 13 percent to DKK 4 billion, while EBITDA before special items increased 20 percent to DKK 688 million.“We reached a new all-time high result in 2018 and growth is set to continue in 2019 on the back of our recent expansion in the Mediterranean,” Niels Smedegaard, CEO of DFDS, commented.Freight ferry volumes developed through 2018 in tandem with European growth. Volumes increased in the first half-year and began to decline in the second half-year as visibility on Brexit and global trading was reduced, including lower trading between Europe and Turkey. For DFDS, volumes in northern Europe were 3 percent down in Q4 and flat for the year.Passenger volumes were more resilient as they increased 2 percent for the full year, although also with a declining trend in the second half-year.Last year, DFDS acquired U.N. Ro-Ro, Turkey’s largest operator of freight routes, to better use opportunities from the fast-growing transport market between Turkey and the EU. In addition, the company decided to expand both port terminal and route capacities in order to accommodate the volume increase of around 30 percent in the Mediterranean. DFDS will also increase vessel capacity by allocating further ships to this market.The company said it will be investing around DKK 2.5 billion in newbuilds and terminal expansion in 2019. DFDS has a total of eight newbuilds on order. In 2019, three freight ships are scheduled for deployment, with another three to be delivered in 2020. Two combined freight and passenger ferries are on order for delivery in Q1 and Q3 2021.“Timely investments in new freight ferry capacity will support our customers’ growth. We are well prepared to help them through any Brexit outcome,” Smedegaard pointed out.With regards to the outlook for 2019, DFDS said it can be impacted by political changes, first and foremost within EU and Turkey. Brexit is said to represent an important risk as well.DFDS has identified five key performance drivers that are expected to positively impact the growth in 2019. These include growth from Mediterranean expansion, preparedness for Brexit, new freight ferries, digital business projects to go live as well as improvement and efficiency projects.The group’s revenue is expected to increase by 10-12 percent in 2019.
Les élèves de la Nouvelle-Écosse âgés de 15 ans se situent au-dessus de la moyenne internationale en sciences, en mathématiques et en lecture, d’après les résultats d’une évaluation internationale réputée. Les évaluations du Programme international pour le suivi des acquis (PISA) de 2006 portaient sur les résultats des élèves dans 57 pays, y compris le Canada et chacune de ses provinces. « Nos élèves ont une nouvelle fois prouvé qu’ils faisaient partie des meilleurs sur la scène internationale », déclare Karen Casey, ministre de l’Éducation. « Notre travail est maintenant de faire encore mieux. Il faut que nous en fassions davantage pour aider nos élèves à atteindre l’excellence. » Les meilleurs résultats de la Nouvelle-Écosse sont en sciences, où elle occupe le dix-huitième rang au monde sur les 67 pays et provinces ayant fait l’objet de l’évaluation. Si on prend en compte l’éventail des résultats dans chaque région, on note qu’il y a très peu de différences entre les élèves de la Nouvelle-Écosse et les élèves des autres régions du pays. Seuls quatre pays et trois provinces — l’Alberta, la Colombie-Britannique et l’Ontario — ont des résultats sensiblement supérieurs à ceux de la Nouvelle-Écosse en sciences. Ces résultats se retrouvent également en lecture et en mathématiques, où les élèves de la Nouvelle-Écosse se situent au-dessus de la moyenne internationale, mais en dessous de la moyenne canadienne. Treize pays et cinq provinces ont des résultats sensiblement supérieurs à ceux de la Nouvelle-Écosse en mathématiques, tandis que seuls cinq pays et trois provinces dépassent la Nouvelle-Écosse en lecture. En tant que pays, le Canada se place au troisième rang en sciences, derrière la Finlande et Hong-Kong. Les provinces qui obtiennent les meilleurs résultats sont l’Alberta, la Colombie-Britannique et l’Ontario, qui se situent au-dessus de la moyenne canadienne. Les élèves canadiens sont quatrièmes en lecture et septièmes en mathématiques. Dans les résultats de la Nouvelle-Écosse, l’étude montre que les filles ont des résultats sensiblement supérieurs à ceux des garçons en lecture, tandis que les garçons ont des résultats sensiblement supérieurs à ceux des filles en mathématiques. Il n’y a pas de différence globalement significative entre les garçons et les filles en sciences. L’étude montre également que les écoles de langue française de la Nouvelle-Écosse ont des résultats sensiblement inférieurs à ceux des écoles de langue anglaise, aussi bien en lecture qu’en sciences, ce qui correspond à ce qui se passe dans les autres écoles de langue minoritaire ailleurs au Canada. « Cette différence est source d’inquiétude », déclare Mme Casey. « Nous allons prendre des mesures afin de trouver les causes de ces résultats et d’améliorer les résultats des élèves dans ces domaines. » Les résultats du PISA suivent ceux du Programme international de recherche en lecture scolaire (PIRLS), qui ont été publié la semaine dernière et qui concernent les élèves de la Nouvelle-Écosse en quatrième année, qui se situent à un niveau sensiblement supérieur à la moyenne mondiale en lecture. L’évaluation du PISA a concerné 2441 élèves dans 86 écoles en avril et mai 2006. Cette évaluation, organisée par l’Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques, est décrite sur le site de l’organisme à www.pisa.gc.ca/ .
Jon Bon Jovi will give a special musical performance at Food Bank For New York City’s Can-Do Awards on April 30.Being honored for their commitment to hunger-relief are Mario Batali, Diane Sawyer, Susan Cahn and the ABC News Hidden America Team.Expected to attend are Michael Stipe, Rachael Ray, David Burke, Anne Burrell, Cesare Casella, Jill Hennessy, Emeril LaGasse, Geoffrey Zakarian, Tom Collicchio, Josh Charles, Gail Simmons, Dominic Fumusa, Kelly Bensimon, Selita Ebanks, Cat Greenleaf and Michael Schlow.The Can Do Awards Dinner is the premier Food Bank For New York City event that helps support the nearly 2.6 million New Yorkers who are struggling to put food on the table. Highlights of the evening include a cocktail reception beginning at 6 p.m. followed by dinner, live auction, awards presentation, and a musical performance.Highlights of the evening include a cocktail reception followed by a sit down dinner, awards presentations, live auction & musical performance by Jon Bon Jovi.WHERE: Cipriani Wall Street55 Wall Street, NYCWHEN: Tuesday, April 30th, 2013For more info, or to buy tickets, visit the event page
Madonna has announced that Miley Cyrus is the guest curator for Art for Freedom for the month of April. Miley will collaborate with Madonna to select daily submissions which will be showcased on artforfreedom.com.“Art can speak volumes – I’m glad to join Madonna in encouraging people to have their voices heard at artforfreedom.com. It’s an ideal home to see how each of us can participate in changing the world for the better,” stated Cyrus.Cyrus and Madonna will select the winning artist’s submission at the end of April and will award a $10,000 grant to a nonprofit organization of the artist’s choice. All projects must focus on the values of Art For Freedom.Launched in September 2013, Art For Freedom is a global digital initiative, led by Madonna in partnership with VICE Media, designed to fuel free speech – to respond, address and protest persecution and discrimination around the world. It is an online public art project encouraging people to express their personal meaning of freedom and revolution, in the form of video, music, poetry, and photography. Public submissions become part of the Art For Freedom website: contributors can join the project by uploading original artwork or tagging original posts #artforfreedom. The project was launched with the film secretprojectrevolution, co-directed by Madonna and Steven Klein.Past guest curators include David Blaine and Katy Perry.
APTN National NewsA Mi’kmaq community hopes its decades-long struggle with unsafe drinking water is coming to an end.Indigenous Affairs is working to fix the problem.Now the chief wants to hold the government to its world.APTN’s Trina Roache has this story.
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is proposing raising planned taxes on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports to 25 per cent from 10 per cent, turning up the pressure on Beijing in a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.The United States has already imposed 25 per cent tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese imports and is readying 25 per cent tariffs on another $16 billion worth to punish China for allegedly using predatory tactics to obtain U.S. technology. The Chinese have retaliated in kind.Last month, the U.S. proposed 10 per cent tariffs on another $200 billion in Chinese products — from parachutes to sardines — in response to China’s retaliation. But President Donald Trump now wants U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to consider more than doubling those tariffs to 25 per cent. The government will seek public comment on the higher tariffs. A hearing on the levies is scheduled for Aug. 20-23.“The Trump Administration continues to urge China to stop its unfair practices, open its market and engage in true market competition,” Lighthizer said Wednesday, adding that, “Regrettably, instead of changing its harmful behaviour, China has illegally retaliated against U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses.”Reacting to media reports that the higher tariffs were coming, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang warned that Beijing will “definitely fight back” to defend its “lawful rights and interests.” He gave no details of possible retaliatory measures.Trump has threatened to escalate the conflict even more by taxing virtually all of the $500 billion worth of goods China ships annually to the United States.“The president is going to continue to hold China responsible for their unfair trade practices,” said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “This has gone on for long enough and he’s going to do something about it.”But Trump’s tariffs have drawn criticism at home in the United States for driving up costs for consumers and companies that rely on Chinese imports.“We said before that this round of tariffs amounted to doubling down on the recklessness of imposing trade policy that will hurt U.S. families and workers more than they will hurt China,” said Matthew Shay, president of the National Retail Federation. “Increasing the size of the tariffs is merely increasing the harm that will be done. “Mickey Kantor, who was U.S. trade representative under President Bill Clinton, warned that a trade war with China will take a toll on a U.S. healthy economy that from April through June registered the fastest growth since 2014.“Our economy is in terrific shape,” said Kantor, now a partner at the Mayer Brown law firm. “Why in the world would you do this? It makes no sense. We don’t need it. It will cost us jobs and investment. It will slow the economy.”___Associated Press Writer Ken Thomas contributed to this report..