Toronto stocks fall for a seventh straight day crude oil prices fall
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index started the week losing ground for a seventh-straight session amid an off-day for any headlines on NAFTA as negotiations are set to resume Tuesday.It was a rather directionless day for equities with some pockets of strength and weakness, said Craig Fehr, Canadian markets strategist for Edward Jones.He expects political drama and issues over trade and tariffs will probably spook the markets sporadically but otherwise return to fundamentals such as economic growth on light news days.“You put those together and on days when there’s not the distraction of political drama or policy risks, I think that is probably where the markets will gravitate back to which again absent the headline risks probably leads the markets higher over time,” he said in an interview.The United States has enjoyed strong corporate earnings and economic data, including last week’s labour report. Canada’s employment report was weaker with 51,600 net jobs lost last month that drove the national unemployment rate to six per cent, up from 5.8 per cent in July.While weekend tweets from U.S. President Donald Trump about China stoked some fears, markets didn’t overreact because the trade dispute between the two countries will simmer for awhile, Fehr said.The S&P/TSX composite index lost 33.18 points to close at 16,057.09, after reaching a low of 16,057.09 on 200.7 million shares traded.The stock market is down about two per cent since Aug. 29.Monday’s session saw major sectors like gold fall 1.78 per cent and energy move down one per cent. Materials, metals, consumer staples and financials also lost ground.The cannabis-heavy health-care sector led, rising 1.5 per cent. Information technology, consumer discretionary, real estate, utilities and telecom services were up.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 59.47 points to 25,857.07. The S&P 500 index was up 5.45 points to 2,877.13, while the Nasdaq composite was up 21.62 points to 7,924.16.The Canadian dollar was trading at an average of 75.97 cents US, compared with an average of 75.96 cents US on Friday.The October crude contract was down 21 cents to US$67.54 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up 2.8 cents to US$2.80 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down 60 cents US to US$1,199.80 an ounce and the December copper contract was up 0.55 of a cent at US$2.63 a pound.
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – A motion was carried at Monday’s Council meeting authorizing City staff to file Bylaw Contravention Notices on five properties on 109A Street in the Sunset Ridge neighbourhood of Fort St. John.The notices have been put onto the titles of the properties, which are all located in the same block of 109A Street between 105th and 108th Avenues, under Section 57 of the Community Charter.The notices were issued to the following five properties: Jackson added in her report that to date, no applications have been received nor have the owners contacted the City with regard to the bylaw contraventions.This is the second instance of the City issuing notices on property titles for secondary suite bylaw contraventions.In July, notices were issued against six properties in three duplexes located on 77th Street, 101st Avenue, and 104A Avenue.The City’s Planning Manager Renee Jamurat said then that the Bylaw Contravention Notice on the properties’ titles mean that the current and future owners of the properties will be made aware of the issues. 10611 109A Street; PID Number 029-142-27010612 109A Street; PID Number 029-142-42310615 109A Street; PID Number 029-142-28810703 109A Street; PID Number 029-142-29610708 109A Street; PID Number 029-142-393. 
A house at 10611 109A Street that has had a bylaw contravention notice issued for an illegal secondary suite. Photo by Chris Newton 
A house at 10612 109A Street that has had a bylaw contravention notice issued for an illegal secondary suite. Photo by Chris Newton 
A house at 10615 109A Street that has had a bylaw contravention notice issued for an illegal secondary suite. Photo by Chris Newton 
A house at 10703 109A Street that has had a bylaw contravention notice issued for an illegal secondary suite. Photo by Chris Newton 
A house at 10708 109A Street that has had a bylaw contravention notice issued for an illegal secondary suite. Photo by Chris Newton A building permit was issued for one of the five single-family detached homes in November 2013, while the other four were all approved on November 19, 2014.Final inspections of the five homes were conducted between May 22, 2014, and November 16, 2015, with occupancy being granted to each home on the same day as their inspections.In her report, Planner Charlene Jackson said that complaints were filed with the City on April 26th, April 30th, May 4th and May 8th of this year against the five properties.Jackson said that in each case, the City requested to schedule a secondary suite inspection via a registered letter sent on June 19th, with a deadline to contact the City to schedule an inspection of July 22nd.On July 27th, a second notice was sent informing the Owner that, under Section 57 of the Community Charter, the Building Inspectors were recommending that a notice be registered on the title.
She said that though titles have been issued for the properties, the City won’t be taking the approach of getting property owners to have the illegal suites removed.
FORT ST. JOHN B.C. – The Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce is seeking a qualified member of the chamber to serve a two-year term on the Board of Directors starting in the 2018/2019 year.Benefits to serving as a Director, are to hold a leadership role in the community, creating new ideas that will affect the Fort St. John region and the opportunity to attract new and sustainable businesses.Duties as the candidate include attending monthly meetings, be a member of at least one committee and attending chamber functions such as mixers, luncheons and special events. Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization comprised of businesses, professionals, residents and community groups working together to ensure a healthy economic and socio-economic base to benefit the entire community.If you are interested in making a nomination or entering your name, call the office at 250.785.6037 or Email info@fsjchamber.comYou can also visit their website; https://fsjchamber.com/
C-69 imposes more requirements for consulting affected Indigenous communities, widens public participation in the review process and requires climate change to be considered when major national resource-exploitation and transportation projects are being evaluated. It applies to a wide range of projects including interprovincial pipelines, highways, mines and power links.C-69 was set for its final dance in the upper chamber late Thursday evening. The Senate made more than 200 amendments to that bill earlier this month but the government accepted only 99 of them, mostly to do with reducing ministerial discretion to intervene in the review process.The unelected Senate has generally bowed to the will of the elected House of Commons when there is a dispute between the two parliamentary chambers about legislation.The bills, both expected to be fodder for Liberals and Conservatives on the campaign trail to this fall’s election, were on a long list of legislation the Senate pounded through as it prepared to rise for the summer.The House of Commons called it quits earlier Thursday. The House closed after MPs delivered condolence speeches following the death of Conservative MP Mark Warawa, forgoing the rest of the day’s planned activities out of respect for the veteran MP who died of cancer.Bill C-48 imposes a moratorium on oil tankers north of Vancouver Island, but after the government accepted an amendment from the Senate, it will now undergo a mandatory review in five years. OTTAWA, O.N. – Legislation barring oil tankers from loading at ports on the northern coast of British Columbia slipped over its final hurdle in the Senate Thursday, despite last-minute attempts by Conservative senators to convince their colleagues to kill it.Bill C-48 is one of two government bills Conservatives in both the House of Commons and the Senate say are kneecapping Alberta’s oil industry by limiting the movement of its oil. It passed the Senate by a vote of 49 to 46.The tanker ban and Bill C-69, an overhaul of federal environmental assessments of major construction projects, have together become a flashpoint between the Liberals and Conservatives over how Canada can protect the environment without driving investment away from the fossil-fuel sector. The Senate committee that reviewed the bill recommended in May the entire Senate vote down the bill in its entirety, but that didn’t happen, leading Conservatives to accuse the Independent senators who make up a majority in the chamber of being Liberals in disguise.Conservative Sen. Michael MacDonald was one of a few from his caucus to make final pleas with his colleagues to not proceed with the bill.He said it “will be devastating for the Alberta and Saskatchewan economies.”However several Independent senators rose to speak in favour of the bill, including Yukon Independent Sen. Pat Duncan.
“I believe we should be doing it,” said Duncan.Ontario Sen. Donna Dasko, who was on the committee that studied the bill in the Senate, said she thinks “it is quite a good bill.”“This bill does not actually ban tankers from the Hecate Strait; it simply landlocks Alberta and Saskatchewan oil, and destroys the possibility of economic development in northern Indigenous communities,” said Conservative Sen. Dennis Patterson, a former premier of the Northwest Territories, after the Senate passed it.
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday asked the BJP whether it was pursuing a “jhoot and boot” campaign, a day after the party was embarrassed by its two legislators who attacked each other during a meeting, with one of them using his shoe.By “jhoot” (lies), Yadav appeared to be referring to the multi-crore Rafale aircraft deal, which the Opposition has alleged involved corruption. His comments came a day after the BJP-led government at the Centre told the Supreme Court that documents related to the agreement had been “stolen” from the Defence Ministry. Also Read – How a psychopath killer hid behind the mask of a devout laity!”First there were parallel negotiations. Then the (Rafale) files were stolen. Meanwhile in Uttar Pradesh, MP-MLA used shoes for dispute resolution at a meeting to discuss development. Now BJP workers are asking their leaders as to what campaign is on? The ‘jhoot’ and the ‘boot’ or the youth and the booth?” Yadav said in Lucknow. His “boot” dig was aimed at the fracas in Sant Kabir Nagar, where two elected representatives of the BJP hit each other during a meeting in presence of minister of in-charge of the district, Ashutosh Tandon, son of Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon. Also Read – Encounter under way in Pulwama, militant killedOne of the legislators involved in the fight, caught on tape, used his shoe to hit the other. On Thursday, Yadav’s ally in Uttar Pradesh for the general election, BSP chief Mayawati, too had a dig at the Centre’s disclosure about “stolen” Rafale jet deal documents. Mayawati said in a tweet it was a “very strange and irresponsible chowkidari” that the documents were “stolen”. “The Modi govt made a sensational disclosure in the Hon’ble Supreme Court that secret documents pertaining to Rafale fighter deal were stolen from the Defence Ministry.” ‘Very strange & irresponsible chowkidari. Is national security & interest in the safe hands? Think long & loud,” she tweeted. Later in a statement, she said it was “most irresponsible, most unfortunate and shameful” that Rafale deal-related documents were stolen from the ministry. She asked the Modi government to apologise for failing on the matter of national security. “Before making the stunning revelations (about documents being stolen) in the Supreme Court, the Narendra Modi government ought to have apologised to the nation for failing on the matter of national security,” the BSP chief said in the statement. She said the Supreme Court should now get the entire matter probed under its supervision to satisfy the country.
Environmentalists are shocked over the drying rivers of Bihar failing to get the attention of political parties even during election time. According to officials, there were once some 600 river streams in Bihar which nursed its human population. But now, most of them have either dried up or are on the brink of losing their existence. River experts said in the past that these river streams had not only boosted the economy of the region but also recharged groundwater. But today, the scene is very pathetic on the ground. The perennial river streams have now become seasonal, with a majority of them getting dry once the rainy season is over. Also Read – A special kind of bondSuch streams were earlier used by locals for irrigation and fishing and fetched them handsome money, as they say. The saddest part is that the common man too is not raising the issue owing to lack of awareness and the political parties have picked up only those issues which fetched them votes. According to them, there are over 100 rivers such as Lakhandei, Noon, Balan, Kadane, Sakari, Tilaiya, Dhadhar, Chhoti Bagmati, Saura, and Falgu which are virtually on the brink of death. Of them, the Falgu river which flows through the Hindu pilgrim town of Gaya especially deserves mention. Also Read – Insider threat managementMore than two millions Hindus descend on this pilgrim town every year to offer oblations to the wandering souls of the ancestors. But the river now stinks with sewage water. A serious campaign to draw the attention of the government has simply failed, prompting the citizens to seek intervention of the court. “The river has been the lifeline of several districts of south Bihar as most of the water pumping stations are installed along the banks to extract underground water yet this river has never been an election issue,” said river activist Braj Nandan Pathak. Pathak has filed a public interest litigation in the Patna High Court, demanding removal of encroachments and dismantling of constructions on the river bed. According to him, some 2,500 families have encroached upon the river bed and constructed homes. The dried Saura river in Purnia also deserves special mention here. “It was like London’s Thames which flowed through the middle of Purnia town; but now, it is totally dried up and is being used as a garbage dumping ground,” said Akhilesh Chandra, an activist who has launched a campaign to save the river. “We have been regularly campaigning to bring the matter to the notice of the political parties and the government, but this changes during election time as other issues dominate the poll scene. The saddest thing is that political parties do not think drying rivers to be a vote-catching issue,” prominent river expert and convener of Ganga Mukti Aandolan Anil Prakash told Down to Earth. Prakash blames fast-occurring urbanisation, obstruction of river flows, siltation in river beds and their encroachment to be behind the death of Bihar’s river streams “Once, there were some 600 river streams or small rivers in the north Bihar region alone all of which flowed throughout the year. But now, a majority of them have dried up or are on the verge of fading into history,” rues Prakash. Another river activist Ranjeev Kumar said that population pressures and development, apart from the ecological disturbances have done a lot of harm to the state which was once blessed with hundreds of rivers streams but is now battling out for survival. “Encroachment on river beds and ongoing constructions are squeezing rivers. There is a serious need to bring the issue in public debate but sadly, no political parties look interested,” said Kumar. Another river expert Dinesh Mishra who headed the Barh Mukti Abhiyan is disappointed at the way neither the political parties, not the common citizen have tried to make dying rivers a poll issue this time or before though it concerns everyone. “The problem is that nobody is discussing this issue. They will land in serious trouble if there is drought in case of no or scanty rains which we already are facing,” said Mishra who studied from IIT, Kharagpur. According to him, the situation is doubly alarming this time in the sense that more groundwater is being tapped compared to the recharge rate. “The situation is very desperate and concerning right now with the river streams drying up very fast but there is no serious debate whatsoever,” Mishra said, adding the people must know the fact that the monsoon has gone erratic in recent years and it must be their duty to conserve water. (C K Manoj is a Patna-based journalist. The views expressed are strictly personal)
Kolkata: Children affected with adenovirus are a cause of concern for the city doctors as the affected patients often develop respiratory problems even after they are released from the hospitals.According to the doctors, the children, who are once affected with adenovirus, are later developing serious lung infection which the doctors termed as ‘bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). Otherwise known as popcorn lung and constrictive bronchiolitis, the disease causes obstruction to the smallest airways of the lungs (bronchioles) due to inflammation. Symptoms include a dry cough, shortness of breath and feeling tired. Also Read – Bengal family worships Muslim girl as Goddess Durga in Kumari PujaThe affected children are developing lung infection, which eventually leads to pneumonia. Children are more susceptible to the virus due to their low immunity. The infection can spread fast among the children who tend to be in close contact with the affected ones. Earlier, it was difficult to identify the virus. Respiratory problem, sore throat, fever, persisting cough and cold are the signs of the virus. It has also been learnt that some children and a few elderly patients have been under Also Read – Bengal civic volunteer dies in road mishap on national highwaymedication at various hospitals in the city with similar symptoms. More than 100 children have been affected with adenovirus in past couple of months. What is worrying for the doctors is that many of the children who return home after being cured, again complaining respiratory distress. As there is no specific medicines for the disease the situation is further complicated. It may be mentioned here that more than 20 babies were admitted at the Institute of Child Health with adenovirus most of them have been released from the hospital after treatment. Many other private hospitals in the city also admitted patients with the same disease. The babies who have been admitted to the hospital are aged between four months and one year. Adenovirus can be a serious cause when it comes to morbidity and mortality. According to a senior official of a private hospital in Park Circus, there is also a crisis of influenza vaccine due to the rising number of viral infection patients in the past three months. There is no proper vaccine for adenovirus and hence the doctors are administering other medicines to the patients. If fever keeps recurring despite medication, the patient should be taken to the hospital and also if they complain of irritation in eyes or muscle pain. Adenovirus appears to be like a common respiratory tract infection. Antibiotics do not properly work when the patient is affected with this virus. If the symptoms persist for more than two to three days, the cause should get investigated without further delay, a senior official of the private hospital said.
New Delhi: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has announced that they mayoral election for SDMC will be held on April 26, along with elections for the posts of deputy mayor and three members of the standing committee, officials here said on Sunday. They added that mayoral elections in East and North Municipal Corporations will be held on April 29.The last date for filing nomination papers for the mayoral elections is set for April 18, according to officials. Also Read – After eight years, businessman arrested for kidnap & murderThe notification for elections of mayor and deputy mayor of the NDMC was issued a few days ago, a senior NDMC official said. “This year, as per the rotation basis, the mayoral seat is reserved for the SC category,” he said. The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act provides for election of mayor and deputy mayor from among the councillors of the corporations in the first meeting of the House every year. The mayors and deputy mayors get a year-long term in the cities of Union Territories. Also Read – Two brothers held for snatchingsThe BJP has been ruling the civic bodies for the past 10 years. The mayoral five-year tenure sees five single-year terms on a rotation basis, with the first year being reserved for women, the second open category, third for reserved category, and the remaining two also being in open category. Last year, the polls were held in the open category. The incumbent mayors for the three corporations are Adesh Gupta (NDMC), Narender Chawla (SDMC) and Bipin Bihari Singh (EDMC).
Mumbai: Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya believes his time away from the game, albeit owing to suspension handed over to him for his comments on a chat show, is helping him as he is in a good space right now. Pandya was handed over a brief suspension for the comments he made on Koffee With Karan last year. However, the Mumbai all-rounder has made a strong comeback and has been performing with both bat and ball in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League. On Monday, he yet again showcased his power-hitting ability as his late cameo of 37 runs off 16 deliveries helped Mumbai Indians defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets in their IPL encounter at the Wankhede. Speaking in the post-match presser, Pandya was asked about learning lessons from the enforced break to which he replied: “Nothing, it was okay. Everyone has a setback and I got to improve.” “It gave some time for my body and game. And the time I was out is helping me right now. I am in a good space and everything is coming together right,” he added. MI needed 22 runs from the last two overs, when RCB captain Virat Kohli handed the ball to Pawan Negi; Pandya was beaten first ball, but he then collected two sixes and two fours off the next four balls to settle the matter. The 25-year-old further played down his ability to hit the boundaries under pressure and winning games for his side. “I have been doing this for the past four years now. That’s my role for any team that I play for. I practice the same thing in nets. It’s all about handling situations and if you are smart enough then more often, you will get the result that you desire,” he said. Pandya, who has been included in the 15-member Indian squad for the forthcoming World Cup, believes it is important for him to keep hitting the ball and have the confidence going into the prestigious quadrennial event. “It’s always important to have the confidence because world cup is a big stage and it will be for the first time that I will be playing in it. I was out of the game for some time and it was important to keep hitting,” said Pandya. He also insisted he doesn’t want to experiment much and wants to stick to his basics, follow his instincts. “Cricket is the same whether it’s the World Cup or IPL. I have always followed my basics and that’s what has got success for me and I will keep backing myself that way,” he said.
Kolkata: Anil Kumar Jha, Chairman, CIL chaired an interactive–cum–outreach session with the General Managers of the top performing areas of CIL at its corporate headquarters in Kolkata. CIL Chairman congratulated the Area General Managers for their outstanding performance and urged them to plan better for the year 2019-20 enabling them to achieve newer heights. D K Nayek, GM, Rajmahal, ECL, A K Singh, GM, Kusunda, BCCL, M K Agarwal, GM, Piparwar, CCL, S Mishra, GM, Jayant, NCL, S K Gomasta, GM, Nigahi, NCL, U A Kaole, GM, Wani, WCL, S K Pal, GM, Gevra, SECL, B K Chandora, GM, Dipka, SECL, Ranjan P Sah, GM, Kusmunda, SECL, R P Gupta, GM, Lakhanpur, MCL, and N Kalla, GM, Basundhara, MCL participated in the session. Twelve areas of CIL comprising of Piparwar area, CCL, Rajmahal area, ECL, Wani area, WCL, Kusunda area, BCCL, Gevra, Kusmunda and Dipka areas of SECL, Jagannath, Basundhara and Lakhanpur area of MCL and Nigahi and Jayant area of NCL produced 294.25 million tonnes (provisional) of coal which is 48.47% of CIL’s total production of 607 million tonnes (provisional) in FY 2018-19.
Bangkok: Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has appointed his consort as the country’s queen ahead of his official coronation on Saturday. An announcement Wednesday in the Royal Gazette said Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya is legally married to the 66-year-old king , and is now Queen Suthida. Although she has been in the public eye for about three years, there has been little official information released about her and the news was a surprise to many Thais. She is reported to be 40 years old and to have previously worked as a flight attendant for Thai Airways International. The two reportedly met on a flight. Also Read – Saudi Crown Prince Salman ‘snubbed’ Pak PM Imran, recalled his private jet from US: ReportSuthida joined the palace guard in 2013 and became commander of the king’s security unit, currently holding a general’s rank. The new queen also has several top royal decorations. Vajiralongkorn has had three previous marriages and divorced his previous wife, with whom he has a son, in 2014. He became king after the death in October 2016 of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thai television, which broadcast the royal order Wednesday evening, showed a video of Suthida prostrating herself before the king. According to the announcer, she presented the king with a tray of flowers and joss sticks, and in return was bestowed traditional gifts associated with royal power. TV showed the king in a white uniform and his bride in a pink silk traditional dress formally registering their marriage on Wednesday in his palace residence in Bangkok. The couple was seen signing a marriage certificate book, which was also signed by the king’s sister, Princess Sirindhorn, and Privy Council head Prem Tinsulanonda as witnesses. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and other senior officials were also in attendance.
Jodhpur: Three members of a family were killed while another was injured when the wall of an under-construction house collapsed following a dust storm here, officials said Tuesday. District Magistrate Prakash Rajpurohit said the three were sleeping on the terrace of their house when the incident occurred on Monday night. “The wall of the adjacent house, which was under construction, collapsed due to dust storm and the debris fell on the family,” said Rajpurohit. Those killed have been identified as Naini Devi (50), her son Vinod (23) and daughter-in-law Komal (25). Komal was pregnant. All succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Another family member was injured and has been admitted to a hospital.
Casablanca- Raja of Casablanca on Thursday decided to dismiss coach Mhamed Fakhir, according to Moroccan news outlet le 360. This decision was taken by mutual agreement at the end of a crisis meeting on Thursday night, following Raja’s defeat against the DHJ of El Jadida. This is the second time in less than two weeks that Raja loses a match against the same team after its loss 10 days ago on the occasion of the final of Throne Cup. Mohamed Fakhir was instrumental in helping Raja of Casablanca win Morocco’s football soccer last year, which qualified the club to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup scheduled to take place in Morocco in December. © Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed
DHAKA– 154 candidates were elected unopposed in Bangladesh in the upcoming parliamentary election to be held on January 5, 2014 as 18-party alliance is boycotting the polls.There will be no need for balloting in 154 constituencies out of the total 300 for the parliamentary election as lone candidate was found in the race in their respective constituencies after final scrutiny.According to data reaching the Bangladesh Election Commission from across the country as of December 16, a total of 154 constituencies got single candidate. Of them 130 were from ruling Bangladesh Awami League while 18 of Jatiya Party, three of Jatiya Samajtantric Dal, two of Workers Party and one of Jatiya Party (M).But Bangladesh Election Commission yet to publish gazette notification about the unopposed elected candidates.The Commission announced the election schedule of the 10th Bangladesh National Parliament on November 25, setting the balloting date as January 5, 2014.Most of the registered political parties including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led 18 party alliance are not participating in the polls. Opposition 18 party alliance said that they would not contest any election without formation of a non-party neutral government to oversee the polls.Regarding the unopposed MP’s elect of the ruling Awami League, BNP acting secretary general Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said ‘The Bangladesh Election Commission has staged a drama of farcical election through which 154 candidates elected unopposed.’