India against direct intervention in South China Sea disputes despite having stakes in the region
The navy has ruled out any active deployment in the dispute-ridden South China Sea claiming that its primary area of focus remains the Indian Ocean region where it has unfinished business. Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, however, said on Tuesday that there were global concerns about international trade routes in South China region not getting disrupted. He hoped that all should calibrate in such a manner that such a situation did not arise.”At this point of time, Pacific and South China Sea are of concern to the global community, but in terms of any active deployment from our side, it is not on the cards,” said Admiral Verma who retires later in August.The navy chief’s comments came in the wake of a recent verbal duel between Washington and Beijing over territorial disputes in South China Sea. India, too, has stakes in the region but has chosen to stay away from any direct intervention.The navy remained firm on the stated position that its focus will continue to remain on the area between Persian Gulf in the west to Malacca Strait on the east and Cape of Good Hope in the south.The Indian naval warships are on deployment in the entire region performing various tasks including anti-piracy operations.Its ships were present from the Horn of Africa to Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius providing surveillance.Admiral Verma shared developments on force augmentation.He said that nuclear submarine Arihant will be ready for sea trials in the coming months. The project has been delayed but he hoped that it will remain on track and the crucial nuclear triad would be in place soon.advertisement’AN OLD SEA DOG’Prompted by a MAIL TODAY write-up on his reticent demeanour, Admiral Nirmal Verma, who retires later in August after a career spanning more than four decades, called himself an “old sea dog” and wondered “if it was too late to learn new tricks?”In his farewell press conference, Verma said he was often made aware that he had not been forthcoming with any significantly sensational sound bytes, as are anticipated! “Yesterday’s edition of Mail Tday remarked upon my preference for reticence.I ask myself, ‘Is it too late for an old sea dog to learn new tricks’?” he said.Admiral Verma asked the media to introspect as the accomplishments of 1.3 million patriotic men and women in uniform are not covered to a degree commensurate to their sacrifice.
The place where it all began, The Oval (also known as The Kennington Oval) hosted the first-ever Test match on English soil between England and Australia in 1880. The Oval was the also the place where the historic ‘Ashes’ was born in August of 1882. The ground has since hosted over 100 Tests.The Oval will also see the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 – between England and South Africa, and the go onto host four other matches.The Oval in the past witnessed some of biggest World Cup matches, with ten matches being played across the 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1999 editions. In the most recent of those fixtures at the Oval, saw Pakistan’s legendary spinner Saqlain Mushtaq take a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in 1999.The Oval is historic in terms of football too with it being the seat of the first-ever FA Cup final in 1872 and also England’s first international, which against Scotland, the following year.Opened: 1845Capacity: 23500Known as: The Oval; The AMP Oval; The Foster’s Oval; The Brit OvalEnds: Pavilion End, Vauxhall EndLocation: London, EnglandICC Cricket World Cup 2019 matches -15:00 IST: Eng vs RSA, Match 115:00 IST: RSA vs BAN, Match 518:00 IST: BAN vs NZ, Match 915:00 IST: IND vs AUS, Match 1415:00 IST: SL vs AUS, Match 20STATS – ODITotal matches: 67Matches won batting first: 26Matches won bowling first: 39Average 1st Inns scores: 249Average 2nd Inns scores: 213Highest total recorded: 398/5 (50 Ov) by NZ vs EngLowest total recorded: 103/10 (41 Ov) by Eng vs RSAHighest score chased: 322/3 (48.4 Ov) by SL vs INDadvertisementLowest score defended: 241/10 (49.4 Ov) by PAK vs Eng
The following article was published in the Australian Sports Commissions journal publication; Ausport. It was published in Volume 2, No 3 February and can be viewed using the following link: AUSPORT PUBLICATION- AUSTOUCH STORY Produced quarterly, the Ausport journal is distributed by print and electronially to over 10,000 people and organisations such as the Federal Minister for Sport, Ministers, Senators and MP’s, ASC Board and sponsors, major agencies (AOC, ASDA, etc.) national and state sporting organisations, state/territory departments of sport and recreation, and institutes and academies od sport, and ASC networks of schools, clubs, indigenous sport and sport with a disability. It is also available to be viewed by the general public via the internet. The ASC use Ausport to inform and report on ASC/AIS major achievements and initiatives and to provide sporting organisations with information and guidance on sport management and development issues; and opportunities to share good practice and learn from each other.
zoom Canada has sent its first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China by a containership as part of a pilot project to determine long-term feasibility.LNG was supplied by FortisBC’s Tilbury facility in Delta, logistics and equipment were provided by True North Energy Corporation and CIMC ENRIC Holdings Limited, and the cargo was shipped from Vancouver.Transporting LNG as a containerized cargo means that there is no need for investment in export and import LNG terminals, according to CIMC ENRIC. In this way, LNG can be transported by sea and by land.“This pilot is a small, but significant step for B.C.’s LNG export industry,” Douglas Stout, vice-president of Market Development and External Relations, FortisBC, pointed out.As informed, FortisBC has invested in expanding its Tilbury LNG storage facility and in innovative solutions to transport natural gas. In addition, True North has been exploring creative ways to bring Canadian natural gas to Asia. By teaming up, these solutions will provide China with more access to LNG, a clean and low-cost fossil fuel displacement for coal and diesel.“Our Government is pleased to see this pilot project launch its first shipment of LNG to China,” Michelle Mungall, BC Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, said.By next year, China is projected to become the world’s second-largest LNG importer. The Chinese government is stepping up its efforts in combatting air pollution and LNG imports have more than tripled in the last six years.With limited reserves on its own, the country is turning to producers with abundant resources, including B.C., to deliver natural gas, which is the cleanest-burning of all fossil fuels.Image Courtesy: CIMC ENRIC
Facebook Login/Register With: Timothee Chalamet has had everybody talking when it comes down to TIFF 2018 — Getty Advertisement Advertisement LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment 
Advertisement The actor was closely followed by Lady Gaga at No. 2, Bradley Cooper at No. 3, Robert Pattinson at No. 4 and Kristen Stewart rounding off the top 5.The top 10:1. Timothée Chalamet2. Lady Gaga3. Bradley Cooper4. Robert Pattinson5. Kristen Stewart6. Chris Pine7. Nicole Kidman8. Steve Carell9. Natalie Portman10. Mahershala Ali Twitter TIFF officially begins Thursday and there are some stars who already have everybody talking on social media.Twitter Canada has unveiled its top 10 list of the most-mentioned celebs as #TIFF2018 gets underway, with Timothee Chalamet coming out on top.Our @michaelpalombo looks at the stars and films owning the #TIFF18 conversation on Twitter https://t.co/bOgkT6Vc5KMost mentioned #TIFF18 stars1. Timothée Chalamet2. Lady Gaga3. Bradley CooperMost mentioned #TIFF18 films1. Beautiful Boy2. A Star is Born3. High Life pic.twitter.com/Z9kgwVcdmm— Twitter Canada (@TwitterCanada) September 5, 2018
OTTAWA – Canada’s envoy to Washington will brief finance ministers from across the federation next week on the roller-coaster relationship with the United States.The gathering next Tuesday in Ottawa will take place before a Canadian backdrop of increasing economic uncertainty — from difficult NAFTA negotiations, to competitiveness worries related to U.S. reforms, to tit-for-tat tariffs with the country’s largest trading partner.Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau will host his provincial and territorial counterparts at the meeting, which will include a presentation by Canada’s U.S. ambassador, David MacNaughton. Ambassadors don’t typically attend the sessions.MacNaughton will discuss the state of a bilateral relationship that has showed significant signs of strain in recent weeks.The meeting will include another unconventional aspect: finance ministers will be joined at the table by chief financial officers from the private sector.Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz is also scheduled to address ministers on the economy.The twice-a-year finance ministers’ meetings typically focus on pressing, internal Canadian issues — but the emergence of several big challenges tied to Washington means next week’s talks will no doubt spend considerable time on the U.S.For weeks, Canada and the U.S. have been locked in an ugly trade dispute that deteriorated into a highly unusual exchange of tough words between the neighbours’ leaders.Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed hefty tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from some of his country’s closest allies, including Canada. In response, Ottawa has threatened retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. that are set to go into effect July 1.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the tariffs “insulting” because they are based on the premise Canada poses a national security risk to the U.S.Trudeau’s words earned him an unprecedented personal attack from Trump and a pair of the president’s top advisers after the G7 summit in Quebec.Canada has also dealt with significant uncertainty related to the U.S. on other fronts.The two countries, along with Mexico, have struggled to reach a deal on a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement.On competitiveness, Canada is facing unknown impacts connected to substantial U.S. corporate tax cuts earlier this year.Business associations have warned the U.S. tax changes could end up inflicting more damage on the Canadian economy than would the possible termination of NAFTA.Many have urged Morneau to respond quickly by cutting Canada’s corporate tax rate.But before introducing any changes of his own, the federal finance minister has said he’s taking the time necessary to carefully assess the possible consequences of the U.S. reform for Canada.Ahead of the ministers’ meeting, Morneau will also seek input from private-sector economists at a meeting Friday.It’s an unusual gathering between Morneau and the economists that will come in addition to their traditional, twice-a-year sessions.Federal finance ministers typically convene private-sector economists to get their opinions and forecasts in the lead-up to the release of budgets and fall economic statements.But a spokesman for Morneau said the minister hopes to keep his “ear to the ground” by holding more frequent meetings with the group of experts, which usually includes economists from big banks, industry associations, think tanks and academia.Daniel Lauzon said the meeting isn’t tied to any specific event and is in the same vein as Morneau’s ongoing listening tour on business competitiveness, which is expected to continue into the fall. The gathering will be less formal because it won’t include a photo-op or a news conference, he said.Follow @AndyBlatchford on Twitter
In its 2019 labour market update, PetroLMI says about 12,500 jobs are at risk this year due to factors including low commodity prices, a decline in capital spending and uncertainty about getting oil and gas to market.It says workers in oil and gas services will face the highest employment risk in 2019, while the pipeline sub-sector is the only category that is expected to register slight growth.Provincially, it says British Columbia is poised to lose the fewest jobs while Alberta is expected to lose the most.“Until such time as additional export capacity becomes available, the employment outlook for Canada’s oil and gas sector will continue to be impacted,” said Carol Howes, PetroLMI vice-president. CALGARY, A.B. – A new report says direct employment in Canada’s oil and gas sector is expected to fall by more than 12,000 jobs this year.PetroLMI says the workforce is forecast to drop to about 173,300 in 2019, a decline of 23 percent from 226,500 in 2014.It says the oil and gas labour market shrank quickly in 2015 and 2016 following a commodity price collapse and remained relatively flat through 2017 and 2018.
Jakarta: Indonesia’s presidential challenger on Friday slammed pollsters as untrustworthy and said they should move to Antarctica so they could “lie to the penguins”, as he refused to concede defeat in this week’s election. Firebrand ex-general Prabowo Subianto has rejected a dozen so-called quick counts that say Indonesian president Joko Widodo was re-elected Wednesday by a comfortable margin. The counts, which are samples conducted by pollsters, have been reliable indicators in past elections. Official results are not due until next month. Subianto — pilloried online for his refusal to concede — ratcheted up the rhetoric Friday, after claiming he was the Southeast Asian nation’s new president. “The people of Indonesia don’t trust you,” he thundered to around a thousand supporters outside his home in the capital Jakarta. “Maybe you can move to Antarctica. You can lie to the penguins.” Friday’s crowd size was small for a city that has seen huge street protests in the past. Subianto portrayed himself as a man of the people during the heated presidential campaign, despite his immense wealth and ties to Indonesia’s corrupt Suharto dictatorship, which collapsed in 1998. “This is a victory of the people. The Indonesian people have risen,” he told the crowd. “The Indonesian people don’t want to be cheated anymore.” On Thursday evening, Widodo said that he had received phone calls from world leaders to congratulate him on the country’s polls, but added that he would await final results before formally declaring victory. Subianto has alleged voter fraud and warned he would challenge the results in court. He did the same, unsuccessfully, after losing to Widodo in 2014 and there is little to suggest Subianto will win this latest fight.
London: Manchester City’s treble winners have been hailed as English football’s greatest ever team after their FA Cup final demolition of Watford completed an historic campaign. Pep Guardiola’s side became the first English club to win the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season thanks to their swaggering 6-0 success at Wembley on Saturday. Equalling the record margin of victory for an FA Cup final was the perfect way to cap a remarkable year for City, who followed their record-breaking Premier League triumph in 2017-18 with an even more astonishing run this term. Also Read – We will push hard for Kabaddi”s inclusion in 2024 Olympics: RijijuThey are the first English top-flight side to register 50 wins in all competitions in a single season. Guardiola’s men also scored a record 169 goals in 61 games this season, beating their own previous best of 156. City now rank high on the list of the greatest English teams of all-time. Only a select few can claim to be on a par with City, an elite group that includes Arsenal’s 2004 ‘Invincibles’, Manchester United’s 1999 vintage, who won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, and the Liverpool team of 1984, who lifted the old First Division, the European Cup and the League Cup. Also Read – Djokovic to debut against Shapovalov at Shanghai MastersThe world’s media were united in their praise for Guardiola’s men, who have won five of the last six domestic trophies. BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty wrote: “The club once loftily dismissed as ‘noisy neighbours’ by then-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed they now exert a domestic dominance that speaks eloquently on their behalf with a crushing, brutal 6-0 dismissal of Watford. “This may have been a victory lap completed with embarrassing ease, with early Watford body blows parried in comfort before a form of footballing torture ensued, but this was arguably the greatest day in City’s history as this treble was won ruthlessly, spectacularly.” Eurosport labelled City as the country’s greatest ever, writing: “They may not have won the Champions League but the cold hard facts don’t lie: Manchester City are the best team to ever grace English football.” The Guardian’s Barney Ronay summed up City’s majestic form over the last year.
New Delhi: If the rural and urban divide among voters is any indicator of poll outcome, the cities in Uttar Pradesh are the main culprits in bringing the voters turnout down in the state. Uttar Pradesh saw 59.52 per cent turnout, way below the record national average of 67.10. A breakdown of the state’s 80 seats show that voters apathy was evidence in all the major cities of the state while rural areas witnessed brisk polling. Ghaziabad Assembly segment, a strong urban conglomerate in western Uttar Pradesh saw 53.28 per cent polling and in neighbouring urban centre of Sahibabad 49.5 per cent of voters came out to vote. Noida adjoining the national capital saw 52.35 per cent voting. Also Read – Personal life needs to be respected: Cong on reports of Rahul’s visit abroad This is in sharp contrast to many rural segments of western part of the state where polling was above 70 per cent. Khatauli Assembly segment in Muzzafarnagar saw 72.16 per cent voting. Behat Assembly segment in Saharanpur saw 73.78 per cent polling. Among the big cities in the state, Kanpur saw a turnout of 51.48. Arya Nagar, part of Kanpur, saw only 48.63 per cent and 49.20 per cent of votes were polled in Kanpur Cantt. Allahabad, now known as Prayagraj, saw 51.70 per cent polling. Within the city, only 40.25 per cent voted in Allahabad South. Also Read – Firms staying closed 10 days a month due to recession, govt doing nothing: Priyanka Gandhi Allahabad West, which is part of Phulpur Lok Sabha seat, saw 42.38 per cent voting and Allahabad North, also under Phulpur, was even below 40 per cent at 38.98, one of the lowest in the state. State capital Lucknow also saw only 53.30 per cent polling with lowest being in Lucknow Cantt where only half of the voters came out. Similar trend was witnessed in smaller cities like Bareilly where poll percentage barely crossed 50 per cent.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery praised both Mesut Ozil and Alexander Lacazette for their contribution in the 3-2 Premier League win over Cardiff City on Sunday.Ozil’s place in the Arsenal squad under Emery has was in doubt considering the demands of the new Gunners boss.However, Ozil played 84 minutes of the victory in Wales and was praised by his manager afterward.Emery said: “Ozil, with his quality, I think we need him to give us his moments in the match.
Merson believes Arsenal should sign Sancho Manuel R. Medina – September 14, 2019 Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho might be the perfect player to play for the Gunners, according to former England international Paul Merson.“In the second half he played a good match, he worked every minute he was on the pitch. Maybe in the second half, with his position on the pitch, I think he feels better.”It was a hard-fought win for Arsenal, who were twice pegged back by their newly promoted opponents before Alexander Lacazette’s powerful winner in the final 10 minutes.Asked about Lacazette’s performance, Emery said: “I’m very pleased. ‘I spoke with him because I know him at Lyon. I know he has a big capacity to score in the box and when the team gives him good options.“He has good data to score and today he showed us. It’s good for his confidence.”
AC Milan defender Ignazio Abate backed coach Gennaro Gattuso to get the club out of their current slump in formThe Rossoneri’s 3-2 win over Sampdoria on Sunday came as a welcome relief for Gattuso following their disappointing defeats to Inter Milan and Real Betis.The victory moved Milan up to fifth place in the Serie A table and just three points off fourth-place Lazio with a game in hand.And Abate is certain that Gattuso will continue to deliver given his strong connection to Milan.“It’s in his blood,” Abate told the club’s official television channel, via Football-Italia.“This is his home and he carries the fate of this club in his heart more than anyone. He’s very well-prepared, he knows how to sound the right notes with us every day in training.“He has all the elements to have a great career.
Capello calls Lukaku “a modern striker” Manuel R. Medina – September 14, 2019 The former Italian manager believes Romelu Lukaku is perfectly suited for Antonio Conte’s Internazionale Milan in the Serie A.“The team showed [against Sampdoria] that it is united, we wanted to give a signal to the outside about how we work at Milanello, with great intensity and professionalism with a coach who feels like one of us.“We’ll try to get results, then anything can happen on the pitch.”Although Gattuso himself reckons that Milan still got a long way to go yet before they can reach a turning point.“It will take another seven performances like this to talk about a turning point,” he told the club website.“We have to believe in what we do, like we are doing now, stay calm, I thank the public who did not boo us, instead, they supported us”.Milan will host Genoa on Wednesday in a Serie A clash with kick-off to begin at 20:30 (CEST).
German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have reportedly offered Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi an £85,000-a-week contract in a move considered to convince him to leave the Stamford bridge.The teenager has strongly been linked with a move to Bayern since the start of the month as his deal with Chelsea will expire at the end of next season.Chelsea recently offered the youngster a new contract in the region of £70,000 a week but with Bayern Munich’ latest offer, it is yet unclear if the player will remain with the English side.
Match Preview: RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich Boro Tanchev – September 14, 2019 RB Leipzig will have the chance to prove their title-winning capabilities when they host Bayern Munich today at 18:30 (CET).Sports mole reports that Hudson-Odoi has only played 51 minutes of Premier League football for the Blues during the 2018-19 campaign and is believed to be frustrated with what he perceives to be a lack of action at Stamford Bridge.Chelsea are currently playing in the Europa League. A move to Germany will see the youngster feature in the UEFA Champions League.
Oil prices fell on Thursday after OPEC said that its production had risen to its highest level in at least eight years and following reports of an increase in U.S. crude stockpiles.International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were trading at $51.52 per barrel at 0103 GMT, down 29 cents, or 0.6 percent, from their previous close.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 35 cents, or 0.7 percent, at $49.83 per barrel.Traders said oil markets had come under pressure after Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reported a rise in production, despite the producer cartel having plans, potentially with non-OPEC producer Russia, to cut output in a bid to rein in a global supply overhang.”Crude responded predictably, with both Brent and WTI falling,” said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at brokerage OANDA in Singapore.OPEC on Wednesday reported its oil production rose in September to the highest in at least eight years and raised its forecast for 2017 non-OPEC supply growth, pointing to a larger surplus next year despite the group’s deal to cut output.The producer cartel pumped 33.39 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, according to figures OPEC collects from secondary sources, up 220,000 bpd from August.”In the absence of any OPEC-Russia headlines to give crude its daily adrenaline shot, the market looks nervously to the EIA Crude Inventory figures due in the US this evening,” Halley added.The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is due to publish official storage inventory data later on Thursday.The American Petroleum Institute, a trade group, reported on Wednesday that U.S. crude inventories rose by 2.7 million barrels to 470.9 million barrels in the week to Oct. 7. This would be the first rise in oil stocks following five straight weeks of declines.Traders said a strong dollar, which was hovering near seven-month highs on Thursday on reinforced prospects for a near-term U.S. interest rate hike, was also wighing on crude futures.A stronger dollar makes it more expensive for countries who use other currencies domestically to import dollar-traded oil, potentially weighing on demand.
Oil prices inched up on Monday, supported by a weaker dollar and expectations that OPEC and other producers will cut output as part of a deal to curb global oversupply.Brent crude futures LCOc1, the international benchmark for oil prices, were trading at $55.64 per barrel at 0344 GMT (10:44 p.m. ET), up 19 cents from their last close.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 17 cents at $52.54 a barrel.Traders said that prices were buoyed by a weakening dollar, which makes fuel purchases cheaper for countries that use other currencies domestically, potentially spurring demand.After spending much of the second half of 2016 in an upward trend, the dollar has fallen around 2.5 percent against a basket of other leading currencies .DXY since its early-January peak.The greenback is in particular focus for international investors this week as Donald Trump is set to take office as the next U.S. president on Friday.”Oil pricing will be driven this week by the movement of the U.S. dollar rather than crude itself, with President-elect Trump’s inauguration … being the main event,” said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at OANDA brokerage in Singapore.Oil also continued to receive support from an announced crude output cut from major producers including the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia.OPEC has said it would reduce its output by 1.2 million barrels per day to 32.5 million bpd from Jan. 1, and Russia as well as other non-OPEC members are planning to cut about half as much.However, there is a broad expectation that OPEC will not fully implement its announced cuts, although compliance estimates of 50 to 80 percent are enough to keep crude prices supported in the mid-$50s per barrel, traders said.Rising oil output in the United States has prevented crude prices from climbing further.Despite a small dip in drilling last week, Goldman Sachs said it expected year-on-year U.S. oil production to rise by 235,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2017, taking into account estimates of wells that have been drilled and are likely to start producing in the first half of the year.Overall U.S. oil output stands at 8.95 million bpd, up from less than 8.5 million bpd in June last year and back at similar levels to 2014, when OPEC decided to start a price war against U.S. shale producers and sent the market into a tailspin.
Map of RangamatiJama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) members, who launched suicide bomb attacks on two mosques inside Shaheed Moazzem Base at Rangamati in 2015, had plans to loot arms and ammunition from the base., according to investigators.They said in the chagesheets that when the banned Islamist group men failed to carry out their original plan, they turned to the mosques instead, with a view to making their presence known.About 22 months after the incident, the police on Tuesday submitted two separate chagesheets with Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate’s court, indicting six people, including an official of Bangladesh Navy.The accused are M Shakhawat Hossain, a former member of Bangladesh Navy, Abdul Mannan, Ramzan Ali, and Bablu Rahman alias Rony, ball keepers of Ishaa Khan Base, and Mannan’s elder brother Abdul Gaffar.Of them, Shakhawat and Bablu are absconding and three others in Chittagong Central Jail.At least 24 people were injured in two separate attacks on mosques inside the naval base on 18 December 2015, investigation officer (IO) and the city’s EPZ police station inspector Mohammad Osman Gani mentioned in the chargesheet.It said a search operation was conducted immediately after the incident where a bomb and a suicide vest were recovered from a toilet on the ground floor of the base in an abandoned condition.The IO said JMB’s regional chief coordinator in Chittaong Raisul Islam Khan alias Fardeen alias Nafis led the attack.He was later killed in an explosion while making a grenade in Sherpur of Bogra on 3 April, 2016.Fardeen was then excluded from the chargesheet, the IO added.Additional deputy commissioner of Chittagong police (procsecution) Nirmalendu Bikash Chakraborty said the chargecheets would be sent to the session judge’s court for a hearing.*This piece, originally published in the Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Saimul Huda
An NGO official was shot to death by unidentified assailants in the Nuton Uposhohor area of Jessore town on Saturday night.The deceased is Golam Kuddus Viku, 50, son of Yasin Ali of the area. He is an executive director of non-government organisation (NGO) Prottasha Samaj Kalyan Sangstha.A gang of five-six men shot Viku to death from a close range while he was standing at the door of his house around 9:30pm, said officer-in-charge of Jessore Kotwali police station AKM Azmul Huda.Viku was rushed to Jessore General Hospital where physicians declared him dead.Police is investigating the incident, OC added.
Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman speaking at a programme to celebrate 20th anniversary of the daily at CA Bhaban auditorium on Sunday. Photo: Prothom AloProthom Alo will continue along its journey with good journalism and will strive to change society for the better. Employees of the daily reiterated this commitment on its 20th founding anniversary on Sunday. The daily celebrated its anniversary at the CA Bhaban auditorium in Karwan Bazar. The programme was attended by Prothom Alo employees of the Dhaka office. The event started with Somnur Monir Konal signing a patriotic song, followed by the screening of a documentary made by Redoan Rony on the teachers and students of ‘Alor Pathshala’, a school built by Prothom Alo Trust in a ‘char’ of the river Padma in Rajshahi. In his speech, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman highlighted various social endeavours carried out by the daily since 1998. “Prothom Alo has been working relentlessly to bring about positive change in society and individuals. We dream of seeing a new Bangladesh led by youth. We want Bangladesh’s victory in every sector, and good journalism can do it,” he said. The daily has contributed to bring about many positive changes in society by publishing success stories of the people, he added. Managing editor Sajjad Sharif stressed the need to adhere to values of good journalism, people-oriented activities, change making and the creativity on which Prothom Alo was established. Media Star’s members of the board of directors Rokia Afzal Rahman, Arshad Waliur Rahman and Atikur Rahman along with Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman. Photo: Prothom AloAssociate editors Anisul Haque and Abdul Quayum, general manager (advertisement) Rashidur Rahman, and sports editor Utpal Shuvro reminisced about their journey with Prothom Alo. General manager of circulation department ABM Zakaria, deputy editor Lazzat Enab Mohsi, senior reporter Sheikh Sabiha Alam, senior sub-editor Tapati Barman and staff reporter Ahmed Deepto shared their experience with Prothom Alo. Ahmed Deepto, who was brutally attacked by some youth while covering recent road safety movement, thanked Prothom Alo for standing by him and said “a journalist shouldn’t be intimidated to speak the truth no matter how much difficulties he faces.” Conducted by feature editor Sumana Sharmin, members of Media Star’s board of directors Rokia Afzal Rahman, Arshad Waliur Rahman and Atikur Rahman were also present at the programme.Rokia Afzal Rahman, also a former caretaker government advisor, said the journalists of Prothom Alo should continue to work with utmost integrity and honesty no matter how much pressure they face. Prothom Alo also awarded its employees recognizing their works throughout the year. Staff reporter Ahmed Zayeef got best emerging reporter award, Nusrat Nowrin of Prothom Alo English and Md Saifullah of feature department received best newcomer award, senior reporter Anowar Hossain received best reporter award. Consultant Qurratul Ain Tahmina and team (Md Asaduzzaman, Pranab Bhoumik, Golam Mortuza and Nasrin Akhter) received award for special report on women and children harassment, senior reporter Morshed Noman was awarded for best report. Awardees pose for photographs. Photo: Prothom Alo.Chattogram office’s staff photographer Sourav Das got best photographer award, joint editor of editorial department Md Mizanur Rahman Khan received award for taking most discussed photograph, and Md Rana Abbas received ‘Somoyer Sangbadik’ award. ‘Bodoler Shohojogi’ award went to arts and graphics department’s chief art director Ashok Karmakar and senior sub-editor Md Abul Hasnat.Md Raziul Hasan and Md Fazlul Kabir received best sub-editor awards. Jhenidah correspondent Azad Rahman received best correspondent award and Shamimul Hasan Chowdhury of advertisement and circulation department got business award. Senior reporter Mostak Ahmed, event and activation department’s Shah Poran Tushar, senior editorial assistant Gouranga Chandra Das received ‘Ononya Sohojogi’ awards. Sports department and development and maintenance department got best team awards.Kishor Alo received a special award. Best Bondhusova award was received by Khulna and Bhairab Bondusava. Overseas edition’s editor and also head of Prothom Alo online, Selim Khan, received ‘Bebosthaponay Ononnya’ award. Different organisations such as Banglavision, IPDC, Group M Webmaker, FCB Bitopi, Grow and Excel, Rang Bangladesh, Bikroy.com, Concito PR, ABC radio, Deepto TV, Pran RFL, Oppo, Nogod, Forethought PR, Sonargaon University, Mercantile Bank Limited, Symphony Mobile, The Westin Dhaka, Premier Bank Limited, Bondhusava, Walton, Extra PR, NCC Bank, Bangladesh Janasangjog Samity, National Bank Limited, Prochito, Bkash, Huawei, Banglalink, Hotel Zakaria International, Farmers Bank Limited, Nagorik TV, NRBC Bank, Bonik Barta, Annex Communications, and Islami Andolon Bangladesh congratulated the newspaper on its anniversary.
To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code: – / 7In May 2017 we went to check out an unusual situation in northwest Houston, at the intersection where Randon Road and Mangum Road meet West 43rd Street.A neighbor told us the intersection was missing a crosswalk. That meant you had to walk all the way around just to get to the bus stop on the other side of the street. Listen Share
So we went to meet Thomas Jackson, who’d been complaining about the situation for months.Houston Public Works initially told Jackson they couldn’t build that missing crosswalk because of the steep grade at a railroad crossing on the other side of the street. But despite the lack of crossing signals and a big “no pedestrians” sign, Jackson said people crossed anyway.“Myself as well and people I’ve seen have been stuck in the intersection because they think they had the ability to get across,” explained Jackson. “And then the light would turn green and cars would be honking at them.”Jackson kept up the pressure and News 88.7 also talked to Public Works.And persistence paid off. On our recent return visit Jackson showed us a new crosswalk across Randon Road, with a curved path to help pedestrians over the tracks.“I had seen them working on it for a couple of weeks and then it took another two week I think to get the lights working,” said Jackson. “So that Monday morning when I got to the crosswalk and it actually had working lights it was pretty exciting.” So what advice does Jackson have for people who are trying to get things fixed in their neighborhood? He says find the right people to talk to at the city department that can handle your issue. And if that doesn’t work, call your council member. 00:00 /00:53 X
Harris County Flood Control DistrictThis photo shows one of the community engagement meetings the Harris County Flood Control District hosted in the summer of 2018 to provide information on the flood control bond that was voted on August 25, 2018. People who attended the meetings also had the opportunity to provide comments to county officials. Share 00:00 /00:52 Listen 
X When voters look at the ballot for the Harris County Flood Control District bond election, they see 318 words explaining what the $2.5 billion would be used for.In short, it’s for flood control projects, including purchasing land, construction of detention basins and any needed improvements.But it’s the terms of the bond issue that Jim Blackburn, co-director of the Severe Storm Center at Rice University, calls historic.“In the bond issue, we did get geographic equity worked into the language that the commissioners passed, and that’s really important,” he said. “That and transparency, public participation, are both written in.”Federal funds are driven by benefit-cost ratio, Blackburn said.That means oftentimes those funds will benefit wealthy areas over low-income ones. And that’s one thing the county’s flood bond seeks to avoid.Election Day for the measure is this Saturday, August 25.The ballot reads as follows:“Shall the commissioners court of Harris County, Texas, acting in its capacity as the governing body of the Harris County Flood Control District, be authorized to issue, in one or more series, bonds of such district in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,500,000,000.00 bearing interest at a rate or rates not exceeding the maximum interest rate now or hereafter authorized by law, as shall be determined within discretion of such commissioners court at the time of issuance, and maturing serially or otherwise at such times as may be fixed by such commissioners court not to exceed 30 years from their date or dates, for the purposes of financing flood control projects for the district, including purchasing lands, easements, rights-of-way and structures, and for the acquisition and construction of improvements, including detention basins, channel modifications and other works suitable for use in connection with flood damage reduction, of and on behalf of the Harris County Flood Control District, including but not limited to all costs associated with improvements to hold or convey storm water, including wetlands mitigation, and all additions to such systems and all works, improvements, facilities, interests in property, and contract rights necessary or convenient or in the aid thereof, for such district or in cooperation or by contract with the United States of America or any agency thereof, the state of Texas or any agency thereof, the city of Houston, any other municipality or political subdivision within Harris County, or any county adjacent to Harris County or any municipality or political subdivision within such a county, and annually to levy, to the full extent authorized by the constitution and the laws of the state of Texas, an ad valorem tax of the district upon all taxable property within such district sufficient to pay the interest on such bonds and to create and provide a sinking fund for the redemption of said bonds at maturity?” To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code: