Advertisement Maracle, a Mohawk from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and executive director of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, is known as a passionate advocate for urban Indigenous peoples and women’s issues. Twitter The Tragically Hip lead singer Gord Downie salutes fans during the first half of game three of an NBA playoff series basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers in Toronto on Friday, May 5, 2017. (FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS) Downie, who announced last year that he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, has become a strong advocate for Indigenous people and issues.His recent solo album and graphic novel Secret Path tells the story of an Indigenous boy, Chanie Wenjack, who died while trying to escape a residential school.The Hip’s members — Downie, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois and Gord Sinclair — are being honoured for their contributions to Canadian music and support for social and environmental causes. Advertisement OTTAWA — Gord Downie and Indigenous activist Sylvia Maracle will receive the Order of Canada on Monday, while Downie’s Tragically Hip bandmates will receive their civilian honours at a later date.Maracle will be named an officer of the Order of Canada and Downie will be named a member.They are among 30 recipients to be honoured for leadership in supporting Indigenous issues, including NHL player Jordin Tootoo, who will receive a meritorious service medal in the civil division. Advertisement Login/Register With: Facebook LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment 
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TORONTO – An association representing some Tim Hortons franchisees says a prominent member has had his licence renewal denied amid ongoing tensions with the company.The Great White North Franchisee Association board says Mark Kuziora was denied a renewal for one of his two Toronto Tim Hortons outlets as an intimidation tactic.Kuziora, who is on the association board, was also named as a plaintiff last year in a lawsuit against Tim Hortons alleging it improperly used money from a national advertising fund.The association, which formed in 2017 in response to what they said was mismanagement from Tim Hortons and parent company Restaurant Brands International, says Kuziora was willing to go ahead with store renovation plans that franchisees have raised concerns about.Tim Hortons says Kuziora has no renewal rights under the agreement for the specific restaurant, and that they regularly add new owners as part of the normal course of business activity.The company and franchisees have been in disputes over a range of issues including cost-cutting measures, advertising, and recently announced plans for renovations that the association says will cost each restaurant owner about $450,000.
Benghazi – A bomb exploded early Monday outside areception hall in the restive eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, damaging the building without wounding anyone, security officials said.“Unknown assailants on Monday morning threw an explosive device at a building housing a reception hall,” security forces spokesman Colonel Abdallah al-Zaidi said.Zaidi said the homemade bomb contained some 12 kilogrammes (26 pounds) of TNT. Two days earlier a bomb had exploded in the car of an electoral official in the same neighbourhood in Benghazi, damaging five cars but causing no casualties.That explosion took place in the parking lot of a school that was being used as a centre for the committee organising municipal elections, for which no date has yet been set.Benghazi, the cradle of the 2011 revolution that toppled longtime ruler Moamer Kadhafi, now sees near-daily attacks and bombings, mainly targeting Libya’s fledgling security forces and Western missions.The government has called on the rebel brigades that overthrew Kadhafi to lay down their arms or join the security forces, but several militias have ignored its pleas and carved out their own fiefdoms across the vast, mostly-desert country.
Rabat – The Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) conducted Monday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the signing of an agreement for the allocation of US$ 175 million to finance development projects in Morocco.The agreement was signed by Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Mohammed Boussaid and the Saudi Fund for Development Vice President and Board Member Yousif bin Ebrahim Al Bassam.The agreements cover vital projects, including US$ 142 million for the construction of a University Hospital and US$ 30 million for a Medical school in the southern city of Agadir. According to the Moroccan Ministry of Economy, “the two projects (…) will have a positive impact since they will promote the emergence of a health care center in the region of Souss Massa Draa, and will improve the health care provision for the benefit of the population of Morocco’s southern region.”The amount is part of the fourth phase of a global donation of $1.25 billion by Saudi Arabia attributed within the framework of the strategic partnership between Morocco and the Gulf countries. The first three phases with a total value of US$ 865 million were signed in 2013 and 2014.In 2011, Morocco and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries signed a strategic partnership for the creation of a support fund with US$ 5 billion as a donation for the period 2012/2016. The fund has contributions from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission
Afghanistan, which has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, must intensify efforts to improve the health of women and children as part of overall efforts to boost conditions in the war-ravaged country, the head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said today in Kabul.“I would like to make a strong call for greater investment in the health and well-being of Afghanistan’s women and their families,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid. In Afghanistan, UNFPA is supporting a national census while seeking to promote gender equity and women’s empowerment and foster maternal health, reproductive health and HIV prevention. Ms. Obaid said work in these areas will benefit Afghanistan as a whole. “We all know from many studies that women contribute greatly to their families and communities and that when women participate in the community and the family, that the country becomes much stronger,” she said.“In our work in Afghanistan and the overall strategy of the country, the big challenge facing human development in Afghanistan is to support women and girls so they can exercise their rights to education, to health, to decent work, to live free from violence, coercion and discrimination, and to participate fully in public life,” she added.A central concern is addressing the problem of violence against women, in law enforcement and through public awareness. “But most importantly violence against women will not stop if the men themselves do not participate in stopping the violence,” she said.On average, one Afghan mother dies for every 60 births, but maternal death rates in some provinces are several times higher, according to UNFPA, which is working with the authorities to train female health personnel to deal with the problem. “We want to ensure that we can offer a comprehensive package of life-saving health services, including family planning, skilled attendance at birth and access to emergency obstetric care,” said Ms. Obaid.The UNFPA Executive Director, who will meet with senior Government officials and representatives of civil society during her stay in the country, said these talks would be a two-way exchange of ideas. “I am here to discuss the development and progress of Afghanistan, but also to listen to the Government and civil society to understand better the issues that you are facing.”Overall, she said the agency’s aim is “to ensure that we can support development for the Afghan people and that they can have a better quality of life throughout.” 23 April 2007Afghanistan, which has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, must intensify efforts to improve the health of women and children as part of overall efforts to boost conditions in the war-ravaged country, the head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said today in Kabul.
TORONTO — Deteriorating global economic prospects continued to weigh on the Toronto stock market Wednesday amid a weak outlook from resource giant Alcoa Inc. and a pessimistic assessment from the International Monetary Fund.Here are the closing numbersTSX — 12,212.42 -61.15 -0.5%S&P 500 — 1432.56 -8.92 -0.6%Dow — 13,344.97 -128.56 -1.0%Nasdaq — 3,051.78 -13.24 -0.4%The S&P/TSX composite index fell for a third session, down 61.15 points to 12,212.42 while the TSX Venture Exchange dropped 25.66 points to 1,302.15.The Canadian dollar was off 0.22 of a cent to 101.97 cents US.New York indexes were also negative even as the U.S. Federal Reserve said that stronger housing markets helped boost economic growth at the end of the summer in nearly every region of the United States.The Dow Jones industrials racked up a second consecutive triple-digit loss, falling 128.56 points at 13,344.97.The Nasdaq shed 13.24 points at 3,051.78, and the S&P 500 index edged down 8.92 points to 1,432.56.The Fed noted in its most recent regional survey that the economy “expanded modestly” across all 12 districts during September.But CIBC World Markets senior economist Peter Buchanan noted that in contrast, “the August Beige book used the slightly stronger term ‘moderate’ for three of the 12 districts, implying some slight softening in momentum in several districts.”Markets were firmly in the red all day after Alcoa predicted aluminum demand would grow 6% this year, down from 7% in the previous quarter, primarily because of slower growth in China.The aluminum producer is viewed as a broad economic bellwether as its products are used in a wide variety of industries, from vehicles to appliances.Alcoa shares were down 4.6% as the company kicked off the start of the third-quarter reporting season by posting a loss of US$143-million, largely on one-time charges, while adjusted results beat estimates. Revenue of US$5.83-billion also beat expectations.On top of that, the International Monetary Fund reduced its growth forecast for the world economy to 3.3% this year from its previous estimate of 3.5%.Expectations for third-quarter earnings have been ratcheted lower because of global growth concerns. Analysts expect earnings for Standard & Poor’s 500 companies to be lower than a year ago, the first time that has happened in almost three years.“However, when you look at it from a glass half-full standpoint, the bar has been set really low,” said Allan Small, senior adviser at DWM Securities Inc.“And that could lend itself to some beating of expectations.”Small added that he’s looking ahead to Friday when the big banks start to report in order to get more clarity on earnings.“Corporate earnings really don’t start until Friday when JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo report and that’s going to be the first indicator of the health of the U.S. banking sector, which is a huge factor in the stock market and the emotions of investors in the U.S. and that gets carried around the world,” he said.The energy sector led decliners, down 1% as the November crude contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange gave up early gains, declining US$1.14 to US$91.25 a barrel on diminished demand prospects.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries lowered its forecast for global oil demand in 2012, and said that world oil demand will grow by 800,000 barrels a day in 2012, down 100,000 barrels from its previous forecast. Canadian Natural Resources fell 56 cents to $29.80 while Cenovus Energy gave back 52 cents to $33.68.The base metals lost 0.8% as the IMF also downgraded growth prospects for China while December copper was unchanged at US$3.72 a pound. Taseko Mines gave back 11 cents to $3.01 while Teck Resources declined 56 cents to $29.90.Losses spread to most sectors with the financials down 0.6% as Scotiabank shed 41 cents to $53.37 and Sun Life Financial stepped back 30 cents to $23.27.The gold sector limited TSX losses, rising about 0.75% as December gold inched up a dime to US$1,765.10 an ounce. Kinross Gold Corp. gained seven cents to $10.25.Shares in AuRico Gold Inc. were up 21.4% to $7.60 after the company said it was selling its troubled Ocampo mine and other assets to a company owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim for US$750-million. AuRico president and chief executive Scott Perry said the deal would strengthen the company’s balance sheet and allow AuRico to focus on its two core assets, the El Chanate mine in Mexico and the Young-Davidson gold mine in northern Ontario.In other corporate news, pharmacy chain franchisor Jean Coutu Group said its quarterly net profit was $51.2-million or 23 cents per share. That compared with $66.4-million or 20 cents per share in the comparable year-earlier period when it recorded an unusual gain on the sale of U.S. assets. Revenue for its fiscal 2013 second quarter rose to $658.7-million from $635.2-million and the Quebec-based company’s shares were up four cents to $14.57.Bauer Performance Sports Ltd. is buying team uniform maker Inaria International for $7-million. The hockey and lacrosse equipment company said the deal will help expand its business to include uniforms and its shares were down 11 cents to $10.84.Here’s the news investors were watching today:European banks facing US$4.5-trillion sell-off: IMFHow is this man trouncing Wall Street with 500% gains?The 27 best stocks with huge dividends and big buyback plansEADS, BAE call off world’s biggest arms, aerospace mergerON DECK THURSDAYECONOMIC NEWSCANADA8:30 a.m.Merchandise trade balance (Aug): Economists expect $1.9-billion deficit New housing price index (Aug): Economists expect a 0.1% gain from the month before, 2.3% gain year over year UNITED STATES8:30 a.m.Goods & Services trade balance (Aug): Economists expect $44-billion deficit Trade price indices (Aug): Economists expect 0.7% gain from month before, 1.3% decline year over year Weekly jobless claims: Economists expect 370,000 new claims 2 p.m.Treasury budget (Sept) CORPORATE NEWSUNITED STATESSafeway Inc Q3 earnings: Analysts expect 43¢ a share Fastenal Q3 earnings: Analysts expect 37¢ a share
by The Associated Press Posted May 30, 2014 2:52 pm MDT AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email Crude oil falls below US$103 barrel; down 1.6% for the week on amble supplies The price of oil fell below US$103 per barrel Friday on ample supplies of crude and fuels.Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery fell 87 cents to close at US$102.71 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract closed down 1.6 per cent for the week, though it finished the month up nearly three per cent.Brent crude, a benchmark for international oil used by many U.S. refineries, fell 56 cents to close at US$109.41 a barrel in London.The price of crude was pulled down in part by the falling prices of wholesale gasoline and heating oil, suggesting that the U.S. has ample supplies of refined fuels. That could crimp demand for crude oil in coming weeks.Crude supplies in the U.S. are also plentiful, but crude prices were pushed higher during the month because inventories at the U.S. trading hub where benchmark crude is priced had fallen sharply.Next week traders are expected to focus on a string of macroeconomic reports, including a manufacturing report and employment data that could change expectations for gasoline, diesel and crude demand.In other energy futures trading on Nymex: wholesale gasoline fell 2.4 cents to close at US$2.972 a U.S. gallon (3.79 litres), heating oil fell 3.2 cents to US$2.888 a gallon and natural gas fell 1.7 cents to close at US$4.542 per 1,000 cubic feet.(TSX:ECA), (TSX:IMO), (TSX:SU), (TSX:HSE), (NYSE:BP), (NYSE:COP), (NYSE:XOM), (NYSE:CVX), (TSX:CNQ), (TSX:TLM), (TSX:COS), (TSX:CVE)
TORONTO – Galen G. Weston wants in on the medical marijuana business.Weston, the head of the country’s largest drugstore and grocery chain, said Thursday that pharmacists are well-positioned to dispense the drug in a safe manner.“We’re an industry that is extremely effective at managing controlled substances,” said Weston, Loblaw’s president and executive chairman, following the company’s annual general meeting Thursday.“It gives pharmacists the opportunity to work directly in real time with patients as opposed to doing it through the mail, working on their doses and making sure it actually has the therapeutic effect that it is intended to have.”Although he doesn’t see any “safety or credibility” issues with the current mail system, where patients are sent the drug from a licensed producer, Weston said patients would be able to receive more consultation if the dispensing was done face-to-face.If given the go-ahead from Ottawa, Loblaw (TSX:L) would be open to dispensing medical cannabis in all forms, at all their Shoppers Drug Mart and grocery pharmacy locations, Weston added. The company operates about 1,700 pharmacies under its various banners.The pitch from Weston is not entirely new. A spokeswoman for Shoppers Drug Mart delivered a similar take in February in its efforts to persuade the federal government to allow pharmacists to sell medical marijuana.Still, his comments mark the latest sign that the marijuana industry is increasingly seen as a legitimate way for businesses to make money in a hyper-competitive retail sector.Loblaw is not directly lobbying Ottawa on the issue, but it is supporting the Canadian Pharmacists Association in its efforts.Last month, the professional group updated its stance, saying it had growing concerns over what it calls a “lack of clinical oversight” in the use of medical marijuana if pharmacies don’t play a “front-line role” in providing access to the drug.The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada, whose members include London Drugs, I.D.A. and Rexall, also holds a similar view.Under Health Canada’s rules, patients are only able to buy medical marijuana from licensed producers and are no longer permitted to grow their own, something they were allowed to do prior to 2013.In February, a B.C. court recently struck down the law as unconstitutional. Federal Court Judge Michael Phelan ruled that forcing patients to buy marijuana through the mail from a licensed producer was an “arbitrary and overbroad” violation of patients’ charter rights.Ottawa is looking at making changes to the regulations and expects to complete the process in August.The Liberal government has also committed to legalizing recreational marijuana use, although no timeline has been given on that initiative.Weston said Loblaw is currently focused only on the distribution of marijuana for medical use, not recreational use.Follow @LindaNguyenTO on Twitter. Let pharmacies sell medical marijuana, Loblaw president Galen G. Weston says by Linda Nguyen, The Canadian Press Posted May 5, 2016 12:12 pm MDT Last Updated May 5, 2016 at 3:48 pm MDT AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email
Keith Scott, Managing Director of MSA Group asks if we are all insane. “If you take the definition of insanity as ‘doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result’, well then we must all be crazy in this industry – every last one of us…” This is an opinion with which many in the industry would agree.He continues: “The failure rate of mining projects and companies is remarkable and possibly unique to our industry and yet we keep going about developing projects badly and wasting money in the same ways.“An analysis of mining project failure over the last four decades reveals that the causes of failure are remarkably consistent. In a nutshell: inappropriately qualified (and too often unscrupulous) and incentivised people are being given too much money with too little oversight to develop projects with too little merit when commodity prices are high. This leads to wholesale failure and value destruction when commodity prices are low.“In fact when measured by total quantum of investment and return, the industry as a whole has given a negative return on the investment made in the 2002 to 2012 commodity super cycle.“You could say Mining Inc. is bust!“Underlying all this is the fact that successfully developing a mine is an inherently risky business proposition. Think about it. What we are looking for and planning to extract is rare in the earth’s crust and often very rare even in the deposits that we discover and mine – the average mined gold grade ranges from 0.0001% to 0.0008%! We then evaluate projects to make a large/very large investment decision through sampling a tiny fraction of this tiny fraction! It takes an average of 12 to 17 years to find a mine and bring it into production and commonly several more years before the project breaks even and starts to make a return. Commodity cycles don’t last that long so on average it will take several cycles – and usually several companies – to take a project through discovery, evaluation and into capital raising, construction and production. All of this within a regime that has to be fiscally and politically stable for 15 or 20 or more years with a commodity price that will likely rise and fall by at least 50% more than once during this period. Add to this the fact that mining is probably more capital intensive than any other industrial activity and requires constant reinvestment of capital into an asset (Reserve) of diminishing value… it’s no wonder we’re not popular with the accountants!“Consider also that we have found all the easy, shallow, high grade, good recovery, good infrastructure, low sovereign risk, low environmental impact stuff and that mining project lead times are set to become longer.“So should we all pack it in and do something else? Absolutely not. There is always opportunity in the market for those who understand that the quality of their people and management is at least as important as the quality of the orebody and who never forget that the market will always be cyclical and volatile and that one must, must, be a contrarian.“Companies who have good management, strong balance sheets and well laid plans will capitalise on this poor market and streak ahead of their competitors. Well run companies that ensure that they benefit from the next up-cycle, but keep their heads, don’t buy overpriced assets, control their costs and plan for the 50% plus drop in the market that has occurred in the last several cycles, will take advantage of the inevitable downturn that follows. We have largely lost the ability to be price makers so we must live by a Golden Rule; price takers must control costs and they should never overpay.”
Spotify fans have been waiting for a long time to get the service in the United States. It’s incredibly popular in the UK and across Europe, but licensing restrictions with major US music labels have prevented an American launch. That hasn’t stopped Spotify from expanding into new markets, and according to Forbes, Facebook and Spotify have partnered to build a new music service that could be launched within weeks.According to Forbes’ sources, the service is under testing, but it’s definitely real and definitely coming. When launched, Facebook users will see a Spotify icon on their news feed right next to the icons for events, photos, and pages. Users will be able to install the Spotify client on their desktop and play songs from the Spotify service and from their own music libraries directly through Facebook. The upcoming service will even include social features to allow users to share the songs they’re listening to with friends in real-time.Unfortunately for American music fans, the service will only be available in countries where Spotify is already licensed to operate. That means that until licensing disputes with American labels are settled, it won’t be available in the US. Spotify has said that those negotiations are still in progress though, so presumably when they reach a deal, the service will be rolled out to American users as well.Forbes cites “sources close to the deal” with the news, but Spotify executives refused to comment. They pointed out that Spotify already has Facebook integration in the form of Facebook Connect, which allows users to log in via Facebook and share the songs they’re listening to on their wall. This deal would take the integration to an entirely different level, giving Facebook a built-in cloud-based music service.When and how the service will be launched is still a mystery, but one thing is clear: both companies stand to gain significantly from a partnership. Facebook’s 500 million users are an attractive target for Spotify, and a built-in music service could encourage more Facebook users to stay logged in at the site: presumably playing (and paying for) games, catching up with friends, and pulling in ad revenue.Read more at Forbes
Luciano Spalletti has dubbed Inter Milan’s Champions League clash with PSV on Tuesday as the most important of his career at the clubInter’s qualification is no longer dependent on them as they need Barca to beat Spurs while they beat PSV on their patch. But Spalletti has called for the focus on the San Siro crunch clash.“We often fail to keep our concentration up for the whole game and when that happens, our opponents take advantage,” the Coach said at a Press conference and cited on Football Italia.“The team are fine. Juventus and Tottenham are two top teams, one’s been winning for 10 years, the other reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season.“We played on par with Juve and, if anything, we dropped points against Parma and Atalanta.“You can lose in Bergamo, but not how we did [a 4-1 defeat]. We must maintain a high level over 38 games, so we have to do better.“Only serious people work for Barcelona. The only mistake we can make is if we focused on their game.
Lukaku backed to beat Ronaldo in Serie A scoring charts Andrew Smyth – September 14, 2019 Former Inter Milan star Andy van der Meyde is confident Romelu Lukaku will outscore Cristiano Ronaldo in this season’s Serie A.“We must think about winning our own, against a team who were in the third pot, whereas we were in the fourth.“They’re also higher than us in their respective League. It’s the most important match since I’ve been here, even more than against Lazio last season.“If, at the time of the draw, we were told we’d be playing for qualification against PSV and Tottenham had to face Barcelona, what would we have said? We’ve seen that the group’s very tough.It’s still open to any outcome. We have the same calmness for Barcelona as Tottenham do for PSV, who’ll want to win here because they only have a few points.“Vecino’s had a test and probably won’t be available. Nainggolan needs a few more days because he risks getting injured again.“We’ll make assessments and study his problem further. Vecino’s problem seems difficult to solve.”
New York Red Bulls Head Coach Chris Armas is excited to reunite with his team again after the end of season break ended. “It’s great to be back with the guys, out in the field, training,” Armas told the club’s official website. “You quickly get reminded what a great group of players we have.”“It’s like we haven’t missed a beat out there,” he said.
The ascension of RB Leipzig – Good or bad for football? Milan Gjorgjevikj – February 12, 2018 RB Leipzig put east Germany back on the football map, but at what cost? Is their achievement a success story, or is it bad…Armas says he hopes to instill the club’s discipline and tradition on the new players and make sure the experienced players become sharper and quicker with the ball. “You love the energy those young guys bring, there’s so much for them to be fighting for,” Armas said. “To see Bradley Wright-Phillips interact with some of the younger players, it’s a thing of beauty to watch it all come together.”The Red Bulls continue training at home before heading to Florida for their first preseason stint, starting on January 21.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be the keynote speaker during the General Session at the 2018 Commodity Classic on Wednesday, February 28 in Anaheim, Calif.U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be the keynote speaker during the General Session at the 2018 Commodity Classic held Feb. 27-March 1 in Anaheim, Calif. The General Session is scheduled for Wednesday morning, Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. at the Anaheim Convention Center.Perdue is expected to share his vision for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) including his thoughts on a new Farm Bill, international trade, rural development and the role of agriculture in America’s food security and economic vitality.Perdue came by his knowledge of agriculture the old-fashioned way: he was born into a farming family in Bonaire, Ga. From childhood, and through his life in business and elected office, Perdue has experienced the industry from every possible perspective. Uniquely qualified as a former farmer, agribusinessman, veterinarian, state legislator, and governor of Georgia, he became the 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture on April 25, 2017.Perdue has served as a board member for the National Grain & Feed Association, and as president of both the Georgia Feed and Grain Association and the Southeastern Feed and Grain Association. Perdue has long-standing, close relationships with the leadership of the American Farm Bureau and has been recognized by the Georgia 4-H and FFA programs, among others, for his leadership in agriculture.Perdue has been married to Mary Ruff Perdue for 44 years and has four adult children and 14 grandchildren. He and his wife have served as foster parents for eight children awaiting adoption.Following Secretary Perdue’s keynote speech, the audience will hear an inspiring presentation from Army Ranger Keni Thomas, who was a member of the harrowing 1993 military mission in Somalia that was recounted in the movie Blackhawk Down.The General Session will also include comments from the leaders of the five associations that present Commodity Classic: American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.Education is a hallmark of Commodity Classic. In addition to the General Session, Commodity Classic offers Learning Centers, What’s New Sessions, Mini What’s New Sessions, Early Riser Sessions and the Commodity Classic Main Stage on the trade show floor. Commodity Classic also features a huge trade show, entertainment and the opportunity to network with thousands of America’s best farmers.Detailed information on all educational sessions, the entire Commodity Classic schedule and online registration are available at www.commodityclassic.com. Attendees can register for all three days or choose one-day registration.Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is produced by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers, and Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
Bill Briggs is a Hillary Clinton supporter in St. Paul. (Photo by Zoe Sobel, Alaska’s Energy Desk – Unalaska)As Election Day approaches, we’re checking in with voters around the state, asking what issues matter to them most — and who they’re supporting for president.Yesterday we heard from Julie Tisdale, a Trump supporter in Anchorage.Tonight we hear from Bill Briggs of St. Paul. Briggs is 60. He’s lived in St. Paul for 10 years, and manages the island’s seafood processing plant. And he is definitely not on the Trump train.He spoke with Zoe Sobel of Alaska’s Energy Desk.Listen Now You can find our other interviews with Alaska voters here:In Anchorage, a Trump supporter keeps the faithIn St. Paul, this Alaskan vows ‘Never Trump’Young Clinton fan ‘totes’ her supportFor this Anchorage Republican, Johnson trumps TrumpFor Trump supporter, Clinton presidency raises fears of ‘last days’
Vidya had worked in several television shows and was part of popular show Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala when she was hospitalised. Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala actors with late Vidya SinhaInstagramVeteran actress Vidya Sinha (71) died in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday, August 15, after suffering from a brief lung and heart ailment. She was best remembered for her movies Rajnigandha, Pati Patna Aur Woh and Choti Si Baat among others.Vidya had worked in several television shows and was part of popular show Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala when she was hospitalised. She played the role of Bebe, Sikandar’s (Mohit Malik) mother.And now, Mohit, has reacted to Vidya’s death news. The actor was close to the veteran actress and was a mother figure to him. Talking to the Times of India, Mohit said: “She played my mother in the show and off screen, too, she was a mother figure to me. She was a constant support and always looked after me on the set. In fact, I used to tell my mother back home in Delhi that I have found someone like her on the set. Vidyaji had not been shooting with us for the last one month and when I visited her in the hospital a few days back, I was hoping that she would get better and come back to work. She also told me that she was missing work and was waiting to get back. I pray that her soul rests in peace. I can’t believe that she is gone. This has happened too soon.”Child actor Akriti Sharma who was Vidya’s co-star in Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala wasn’t told about Vidya’s death immediately. Akriti’s mother told the daily, “She (Vidya) was very close and fond of Akriti and would always get her favourite food from home. Last time also when she had come to sets, she was ill but wanted to spend some time with Akriti. She would also guide her in acting and give suggestions to improvise. Akriti was very fond of her and loved her. We went to meet her last time she was admitted to the hospital and spent good 2-3 hours. But this time, we couldn’t go as Akriti had her exams going on for 15 days.”In the past few months, the veteran actress had been on and off the show due to her deteriorating health. Last time, when she resumed work, Mohit was extremely happy and welcomed her on sets. The team also clicked a picture with her.
District residents straddled the fence in reviewing a new business incubator, developed by Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in partnership with Howard University and Luma Labs. The introduction of affordable technology services for underserved local entrepreneurs, was met with jubilation mixed with concerns over offering services to underrepresented communities that would benefit neighborhoods more.A look inside the Inclusive Innovative Incubator on Georgia Avenue in Northwest D.C. (Courtesy photo)The facility, Inclusive Innovative Incubator, or In3, is to serve as a collaborative environment for new entrepreneurs with limited resources. The facility gives entrepreneurs access to space and technological services to build their businesses.“There are so many young, Black kids in the city who have exceptional [brains] and talent, but have little to no business understanding,” Nervelee Harris-Mitchell, a LeDroit Park resident, told the AFRO. “They are confused or intimidated by the process and could use a safe space to exchange ideas and get answers.”In3 offers co-working space to the public in an 8,000-square-foot incubator with 60 workstations, 11 offices, and five classrooms. Corporate sponsors – including CISCO and OCTO – are providing free Wi-Fi and other technology to the space. The mayor’s office provided $1 million in grant funding to Howard University to construct the incubator within Howard’s Wonder Plaza retail center in the 2300 block of Georgia Avenue.Bowser said, at the launch of the hub on April 20, In3 would improve the business landscape in D.C. by providing members with the right tools and access to financial, technical, and professional resources. “As we set out to make Washington, D.C. the capital of inclusive innovation, we are thrilled to witness In3 come to life,” she told attendees at the launch. “This initiative supports my administration’s vision to make D.C. a more diverse and inclusive city as we expand our tech economy in ways that benefit every D.C. resident. To address the lack of diversity in the tech industry and create inclusive prosperity in every Ward, we will continue to identify more opportunities like In3.”Ward 8 resident Wardell Jamison said while In3 has the potential to do loads for those on or near Howard University’s campus, most young business-minded residents living East of the River often find it hard to access such services due to location.“Some of these young folks are born hustlers and they know how to create, promote, and disseminate their products in a very informal way,” Jamison, a returning citizen with a business of silk screening t-shirts after more than two decades in prison, told the AFRO. “I used to work from my aunt’s basement and so I understand what it is like to do things without the benefit of real business structure. I applaud the mayor, but we need this type of investment over here.”In3, however, prides itself on being inclusive – without regard for Ward or socioeconomics. “Howard University has a longstanding commitment to inclusivity and I am grateful Mayor Bowser and the mayor’s office have supported this vision,” Wayne A. I. Frederick, Howard University president, said during the hub’s kickoff. “It is my belief that the essence of one’s academic pursuit is engagement not isolation, especially as we encourage our students to engage in scholarship and research that is grounded in solving contemporary problems. I am confident that the Inclusive Innovation Incubator will provide a platform for engagement on a plethora of levels.”
Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce is hosting Breakfast with Mayor Catherine E. Pugh on October 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Mayor Catherine E. Pugh will be delivering the keynote address, where she will discuss the current business climate in the City of Baltimore. She will address the new permitting and procurement processes the City is about release as part of her plan to provide more opportunities to the Baltimore business community. If you have any questions or would like additional information, call 410-837-7101 or email eben@baltimorecitychamber.org.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Most search-engine optimizers focus on purely organic results, based around keywords related to your brand or industry. For example, if you’re a marketing agency, you probably spend time optimizing for phrases like “online marketing agency.”Related: These 9 SEO Tips Are All You’ll Ever Need to Rank in GoogleThe problem is, though, that by using such phrases, you’re relying on search users who aren’t already aware of your specific brand and are merely searching for the products or services you offer.But what about the users who already know your brand? You want those people to see results that favor your brand and influence higher click-through and conversion rates, right? As an example, if you search for my company’s name, AudienceBloom, you’ll see several key features to aim for in a branded search:A strong headline and description. The first thing you’ll note is the headline and description for the result, accurately and concisely describing the company.Expanded sitelinks. Next, you’ll see subsections in the search entry, with notable internal pages named.A Knowledge Graph entry. Off to the right, you’ll see a box with information like the company’s average rating, address and hours. This is from the Google Knowledge Graph and can be influenced, to some degree, by your on-site strategy.Other branded results. Below the main entry for the company’s site, you’ll see a number of peripheral results for its social media profiles and articles covering it.All of these items are beneficial, because they provide more information to your users and present you as a greater authority in your industry.With those features in mind as goals, here are some of the ways you can improve your overall branded search visibility:1. Distinctions and variablesFirst, you’ll want to make sure your brand name is suitably mentioned throughout your site. It helps to link mentions of that name to your home page, and to ensure that at least one link in your site-wide navigation leads back to the homepage. Additionally, make sure to optimize your brand name and company description in your title tags and meta descriptions throughout the site.2. Expanded site linksEveryone wants bigger, badder expanded site links in search results. Unfortunately, the entire process behind expanded sitelinks is automated, not to mention variable, based on user queries. All you can do is set up your site navigation as thoroughly as possible, making sure that you include your most important pages in it, and write descriptive titles and meta descriptions for each.From there, it’s up to Google to decide whether it’s worth offering expanded site links for search queries of your brand name. The more branded search traffic your brand has, the more likely expanded sitelinks will appear, so engaging in a content-marketing strategy to grow your brand can help here.3. Social media profilesYour social media profiles have a high likelihood of showing up in your branded-search results. Accordingly, you’ll want to claim all your major social media profiles (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, etc.) and fill in as much information on each of them as possible. Be sure to link to them from your website, and link from each of your social media profiles back to your website’s home page.Related: 6 Essential SEO Strategies to Incorporate in 20164. Knowledge Graph entries.The Knowledge Graph pulls information in from a number of sources, but, most prominently, from your own website. You can tell Google which information is most relevant, and categorize that information (such as your hours of operation) using structured markup; you can find a good guide for this at Schema.org. You’ll also want to claim as many local citations as you can, through Yelp and other third-party directories, and optimize your company’s reviews — more on that below, too.5. Google reviewsGoogle reviews feature prominently in your Knowledge Graph entry (or in local results, depending on where you’re showing up), so you’ll need to make sure yours are in good shape. The quantity and quality of your earned reviews may help you earn a boost in organic search rankings, but more importantly, these factors will help branded searchers decide whether or not your company is worth doing business with.Encourage your top customers to leave detailed reviews from their Google accounts, and do what you can to remedy any bad reviews that crop up. Before you can get reviews, you’ll need to set up and claim your profile on Google My Business, so if you haven’t done so already, do it now.6. Branded articlesAfter your main site and social media profiles, there will still be room for other branded entries on page 1 of the search results. There’s a chance some negative or unwanted results could appear here, so whether you’re trying to suppress such results or just trying to prevent them from appearing in the future, you’ll want to fill this space as much as possible with positive results.One of the best ways to do that is through branded articles, which you can publish off-site. These include press releases, interviews or any other opportunities you can imagine where you get to use your company’s brand name in the headline — that’s absolutely key here.7. Link to your most desirable resultsFinally, build links to your favorite results — the ones you want to boost to a position higher up the search results. Even results that are on page 2 or further down in the search results will get a boost as a result of more inbound links pointing to them. For help building links, see SEO Link Building: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide. You may also wish to build more links pointing to your most important main navigation pages, increasing the chance they’ll be featured in your expanded sitelinks section.Related: 5 Ecommerce SEO Trends That Have Emerged This YearWith these strategies, you can practically guarantee that your online properties are the first to show up for any branded search, but more than that, you’ll make sure your brand makes the best impression possible for new and returning searchers. You’ll have more accurate descriptions, more plentiful information, higher click-through rates, higher conversion rates and fewer problems with online-reputation management. It’s a powerful approach that you can’t get any other way. 6 min read July 4, 2016 Free Webinar | Sept 5: Tips and Tools for Making Progress Toward Important Goals Attend this free webinar and learn how you can maximize efficiency while getting the most critical things done right. Register Now »
Heavy rains on Monday morning in various regions of Costa Rica were the result of a low-pressure system, the National Meteorological Institute (IMN) reported.The weather phenomenon caused scattered showers in the Central Valley and the northern Pacific region for at least six hours, resulting in accumulated rainfall up to 60 millimeters (2.5 inches) in these regions.The low-pressure system caused rains in other regions during the afternoon, including the Caribbean, and southern and central Pacific.The IMN said that a similar system on Tuesday will continue affecting the Caribbean region as well as the northern and eastern parts of the Central Valley.Heavy showers over the weekend caused flooding in parts of the capital San José and increased trade winds over the Central Valley and the northern Pacific region.The Water and Sewers Institute reported that heavy rains and the excess of garbage collapsed the city’s sewers on Saturday and Sunday. Flooding affected several businesses and public buildings downtown, including the National Children’s Hospital.Hospital Director Olga Arguedas said rains flooded the basement as well as the nutrition, X-ray and emergency rooms. Hospital staff had to relocate 26 patients from those areas and various pieces of equipment, including X-ray machines, CT scanners, and an angiography machine got wet, she said.The Red Cross and the Firefighters’ Corps said they received emergency calls from people in Guadalupe, San Sebastián, Desamparados, Ipís, Escazú and Santa Ana, where the floods reached up to 30 centimeters (1 foot), the IMN reported.The Municipality of San José said it would perform maintenance on the capital’s sewer system on Tuesday, but asked citizens to cooperate by avoiding littering the streets and sewers. A low-pressure system that entered Costa Rica June 20 caused an increase in rains across most of the country. (Via IMN)Cyclone seasonThe IMN forecasts that at least one tropical cyclone could directly affect Costa Rica this year.Four cyclones have been recorded in the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans this season, and at least 10 more are expected for the rest of 2016. Two of these will originate in the Caribbean, and IMN experts believe at least one could reach Costa Rican territory.At least 17 tropical cyclones are expected in the Pacific over the next six months but none is expected to directly affect the country. Facebook Comments Related posts:Costa Rica nearing record rainfall for May Tropical wave increases rains over Costa Rica First showers of the rainy season cause spike in traffic jams, accidents El Niño heat expected to last through May
The prison administration vowed to stamp out corruption on Friday, as a 38-year-old warden was remanded in custody for six days in Nicosia in connection with possession of drugs and a firearm.In a written statement, the Central Prison administration said the suspect was the third guard arrested for possession of drugs.“The prison administration has once more made its intention clear, that it will stamp out any corruption phenomenon inside the correctional facility,” the statement said.The statement reiterated that the guard was caught after a tip to the administration, which immediately notified the drug squad.Following a search of his vehicle, officers found around 2.5 grammes of cocaine, a pistol, and a precision scale.On the suspect, police found plastic straw with traces of cocaine, which he said he used to sniff the drug in the morning.“They are mine, for my personal use, I have been a user of cocaine for two years,” the suspect said of the drug and the paraphernalia.When officers discovered the gun, the 38-year-old initially said he found it under an olive tree in his garden.He later told officers that it was given to him for safekeeping by a friend, whom he did not name.The 38-year-old has been suspended.“We reiterate our determination not to accept such behaviours and will display zero tolerance to any act of corruption,” the statement said.You May LikeTruthFinder People Search SubscriptionOne Thing All Liars Have in Common, Brace YourselfTruthFinder People Search SubscriptionUndoFigLeaf Beta AppFigLeaf brings You 3 Easy Steps to Privacy on Your Terms…FigLeaf Beta AppUndoGundry MD PrebioThrive Probiotic SupplementTop Yale Doctor: This Is What Happens To Your Body When You Eat GlutenGundry MD PrebioThrive Probiotic SupplementUndo Concern over falling tourism numbersUndoTurkish Cypriot actions in Varosha ‘a clear violation’ of UN resolutions, Nicosia saysUndoOur View: Argaka mukhtar should not act as if he owns the beachUndoby Taboolaby Taboola