Rani mistris score Swachh goal
When Seema Khujur’s husband died in 2010, leaving her with three young children to raise, the young woman had little choice but to take on daily wage labour that offered little money and less satisfaction.Eight years later, the 32-year old is a proud “rani mistri”— a skilled woman mason — with budding business skills and a leadership position in her village of Dubaliya, 30 minutes from Jharkhand’s capital Ranchi.Preethi Kumari’s journey had a very different starting point. The 24-year-old city girl was a college graduate when she married for love and followed her husband to his village of Dubaliya. Bored without a job of her own, she experimented with several options before she also trained as a rani mistry, learning to build toilets and bathrooms, before using it as a stepping stone to a salaried job in the government’s livelihoods initiative.She is among 55,000 women masons who have been trained by the Jharkhand government over the last year, and become a crucial part of the State’s achievement of Open Defecation Free status under the Swachh Bharat Mission last month. The rani mistris had helped construct more than 15 lakh toilets in less than a year.On November 15, its statehood day, Jharkhand declared itself open defecation free.Not a man’s jobThe rani mistri training drive was meant to solve a problem slowing the State’s progress in the Swachh Bharat Mission, a nationwide sanitation campaign that aims to give toilet access to every household and eliminate open defecation by October 2019.“One year ago, Jharkhand had only achieved about 50% of our target under the Swachh Bharat-Gramin, when the [State] government decided to advance our deadline to December 2018,” recalled secretary for water and sanitation Aradhana Patnaik.With the conventional strategy of routing work and funds through the local administrations to village panchayats and pradhans not yielding results quickly enough, Ms. Patnaik changed tack to capitalise on the potential of the State’s 1.5 lakh women’s self-help groups. “By January and February 2017, we were getting reports from all over the State that there were not enough masons.”Though Jharkhand had approximately 50,000 skilled masons or raj mistris then, including those imported from neighbouring States, many of them were not interested in constructing toilets. “Maybe around 500 of the masons were women, trained through earlier programmes,” Ms Patnaik said. It was a request from one such woman in Gumla district which triggered the mass training of women through the SHGs.“We were given about ten days of training..The hardest parts were fitting the pan, getting the [twin leach] pits in the correct shape and size and learning to use the sahul [or plumb line]. In the first toilets we built, the door was often crooked. Now, we have learned to get it straight,” says Seema Devi, another of Dubaliya’s 10 rani mistris. Together, they supervised the construction of 230 toilets in their village.Leadership roleThe challenge went beyond the technicalities of construction. “To buy the bricks, we travelled out of the village and visited several kilns, compared the prices and then made our purchases,” says another mason Reena Devi. “We went as a group of women, with no men. In the beginning, we were nervous, but this really gave us confidence,” says Ms. Khajur.The men of the village, including their family members were initially sceptical. “When we started bringing in the ₹400 per day, like any raj mistry, they became more convinced,” laughs Ms. Kumari. “Also, everyone now sees that the quality and finish on our toilets is better than those made by the men.”Now that the toilet construction mission is complete, however, many of these women are hoping they can break traditional taboos and overcome a scarcity of opportunities in the construction sector to make room for their skills.Santosh Karmali, a 45-year old raj mistriin the village, admits that the women have done a good job so far. However, he is sceptical of their ability to graduate from toilets to houses, or other constructions.“I have 25 years of experience as a mistri. They need more experience before they can compete,” he says. He adds that local tradition and custom forbids women from laying the tiled roof of a house, even if they take part in other construction activity, just as it forbids them from ploughing the fields, even when they engage in other parts of farm work.The women nod; they know the taboo. “Putting the roof on the toilets, that was the most difficult,” says Reena Devi.Several rani mistrysare content to invest their newfound confidence and small earnings in starting small cottage industries. Others want to continue to build, if they have the chance.The government hopes that those women who remain keen can graduate to home construction under its Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme. “There are several sarkari[PMAY] constructions going on in our village, but the men are doing that,” says Ms. Khujur.In a village meeting, she says the biggest challenge ahead is the community’s water shortage. Only 15 to 20 families have easy access to water.At a wider level, state secretary Ms. Patnaik is also focussing on water. “I have just sanctioned ₹4700 crore worth of surface-based, piped water projects. We hope we can use some of the rani mistris to help build them in the villages,” she says. A new opportunity beckons.(The reporting for this story was supported by a SAWM India-UNICEF initiative)
Everything Shri Thanedar said sounded great to the small crowd of die-hard lefties who spent the Friday night of Memorial Day weekend in this conservative, rural burg checking out the state’s hottest Democrat.That may be because he earnestly agreed to somehow deliver whatever his listeners requested, if only they would help him upset the establishment, win the Democratic nomination and capture the governor’s seat in Lansing.Read it at Politico Related Items
Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox – subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what’s happening in the world around you – in real time. Tel Aviv: Argentina’s Lionel Messi scored an added-time penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw with Uruguay as they twice came from behind in an entertaining friendly match in Israel on Monday.Argentina, now unbeaten in six games since a disappointing Copa America, had the better of the early play but fell behind in the 34th minute when Edinson Cavani stabbed home from close range after a nice build-up by Luis Suarez and Lucas Torreira. The crowd in Tel Aviv cheered Messi throughout and it was the forward who helped Argentina draw level in the 63rd.Messi’s free kick from the left was nodded home by Sergio Aguero to put a more realistic sheen on the scoreline for the Argentines, who had been the more positive side throughout.However, Suarez gave Uruguay the lead again in the 69th when he scored with a powerful 20-metre free kick that flew past goalkeeper Esteban Andrada into the top corner.But the last word went to Messi who, three days after he missed from 12 yards against Brazil, made no mistake by coolly side-footing home from the spot to secure a deserved draw.The fixture was the last international for both teams before they begin their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign in March. argentinaargentina vs uruguayisraellionel messi First Published: November 19, 2019, 11:48 AM IST
Yuvraj Singh having been ruled out of World Twenty20 due to injury, India face a selection puzzle when they take on West Indies in the semi-final today at the Wankhede Stadium. (ICC World T20: India’s road to semi-finals ) The flamboyant left-hander was not in top form but did his part in tough situations by stitching crucial partnerships with Virat Kohli in the Group 10 stage. Yuvraj has been ruled out owing to an ankle injury, which he sustained during India’s must-win game against Australia.Manish Pandey, not in the original 15, has been drafted in to replace the all-rounder in the squad although Ajinkya Rahane is also present as a viable alternative. But it remains to be seen whether skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni chooses between the two or decides to go with rookie all-rounder Pawan Negi. (Tendulkar, Ganguly want Rahane to replace Yuvraj )The no-holds barred battle between the 2007 champions India and the 2012 title-winners West Indies is expected to ultimately be decided by the ability of the players to handle the pressure in front of a full house at a venue where the hosts captured their second ODI World Cup crown almost five years ago.Both teams go into the clash after getting beaten once each in the Super 10 stage and as such the team that grabs its chances is expected to come out triumphant.The head-to-head record between the two rivals in past World Twenty20s is 2-1 in favour of the West Indies. However, India, with a strong team on paper, seem to have the edge although quite a few players have not lived up to the expectations. (India bank on spin to douse WI’s batting firepower )advertisementBut the crowd favourites would be wary of being upstaged by the Caribbeans, who have quite a few match-winners of their own.Kohli has been the biggest galvanising factor in India’s progress this far. With his consistently excellent display in an otherwise misfiring top-order, he is the batsman that Windies will be wary of the most, apart from ever-reliable skipper Dhoni.(with PTI inputs)
Kings XI Punjab’s spinner Axar Patel, on Sunday, entered the Indian Premier League history books as he took the 14th hat-trick of the cash-rich league.Also, Axar became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the ongoing ninth season of the league, achieving the feat against Gujarat Lions at Rajkot.Mohit Sharma struck twice in the first six overs to dent Lions’ chase of 155 against the Murali Vijay-led Punjab.Bowling the seventh over, the tall left-arm spinner dismissed explosive West Indian Dwayne Smith on the third delivery before getting rid of Dinesh Karthik and Dwayne Bravo on the fifth and sixth deliveries, respectively. The Lions’ batsmen were clueless against Axar’s lethal weapon – the arm balls.Vijay, who kept rotating his bowlers, took Axar off the attack and brought in Stoinis to bowl the ninth over.However, coming back to bowl the 11th over, Axar sent Ravindra Jadeja walking back to the hut right on the first ball to complete his hat-tick.The Punjab bowler finished with his best T20 figures of 4 wickets for 21 runs in his quota of four overs, helping his side to a 23-run victory over the Lions.Axar’s hat-trick is also the third for Punjab. The previous two were taken by Yuvraj Singh.
New Delhi, Nov 20 (PTI) Delhi High Court has sought the Centres response on a plea claiming that the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was being excluded from a panel on animal testing, as it had opposed a government notification allegedly paving way for bulls to be used for “performances” like Jallikattu.Jallikattu, also known Eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull-taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival.Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva issued notice to the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change and the Control and Supervision of Experimentation on Animals (CPCSEA) seeking their replies on the petition which alleges that the Boards removal from the panel violates the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, apart from being also “arbitrary and high handed”.The plea by a member of the Board claims that the government by way of a notification issued on January 7 had excluded bulls from the list of animals not to be used for performance and AWBI had challenged it in the Supreme Court which had stayed the circular.Subsequently, the Board was excluded from CPCSEA that was reconstituted on February 17, without informing AWBI which has been part of the panel since 1991, the petition has alleged.The court listed the matter, which seeks setting aside of the February 17 decision reconstituting the CPCSEA, for next hearing on January 23 next.The petition also seeks reconstitution of the panel with adequate representation of AWBI.Central government standing counsel Jasmeet Singh contended during the brief hearing that under the Act the Board was not required to be made a member of the CPCSEA.advertisementThe petition by Chinny Krishna, Vice Chairman of the Board, claims that CPCSEA was set up on AWBIs advice which was done as per the provisions of the Act. PTI HMP PPS ARC SRY
The selectors led by MSK Prasad and Virat Kohli today picked the Indian team for the Champiosn Trophy, where they backed experience over youth. Proven match-winners in MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma were chosen as youngsters like Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson missed out. Kohli’s team will begin their title defense against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 4 in Edgbaston and former India captain Sourav Ganguly has backed India to continue their impressive record against Pakistan in ICC tournaments.”India will beat Pakistan again in Champions Trophy,” said Sourav Ganguly to India Today.”In the last 8 to 10 years there has been a massive difference in the quality between India and Pakistan and that has been one of the major reasons why India has continued to dominate Pakistan (in ICC events). I believe India will do it again in the Champions Trophy in Birmingham on the 4th of June”, he added. India have never lost a World Cup encounter against our fiercest rivals. Our win-loss record against Pakistan in ODI and T20 World Cup matches in 11-nil.Including the Champions Trophy, this record is heavily tilted 12-2 in India’s favour. Such a level of dominance is rarely seen at the highest level of sport between traditional rivals. Ganguly says it is down to the way Team India has handled pressure in crunch situations.”In early part of the 90s and even in early 2000s, it is just that India played better than Pakistan in world tournaments because there was not much difference between the two sides as the Pakistan team was a fantastic unit then with the likes of Wasim (Akram), Waqar (Younis), Imzamam (ul-Haq), Saeed Anwar, Javed Miandad and Salim Malik. But 2005 onward the Pakistan team has not been the same as it used to be. They have lost to India on quality, they have lost to India on ability and somehow India has reacted to big match pressure much better than Pakistan.advertisementThe technique and quality of Indian players has been better than Pakistan. You see Pakistan there is rare brilliance but every time they have been under pressure they have tried to fight or hit their way out of pressure which has not worked for them. But every time you see India under pressure, they are a team which would seem have soaked in the pressure. They have batted and played difficult situations well and then have dominated during the course of a cricket match. But with Pakistan, every time they have been put under pressure by India with the ball or with the bat, they have tried to hit their way out and have not been successful”, explained Sourav who led India to a famous win over Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup at Centurion.The former India captain also gave his vote of confidence to Kohli, who attended what was arguably his most important selection meeting. A billion Indians will have their eyes on Kohli, expecting him to lead the team to victory not just against Pakistan but also to defend India’s title in England and Wales next month.”I think this is the best possible side at the moment and every player selects himself. Selectors did not have to pick or scratch or push one of the players to fill the 15 member squad. They will miss KL Rahul for sure and I think KL Rahul has been a wonderful player for India for the past two years but I think this is the best possible squad that is going to England and they have all the capacity and capability to defend their title”, concluded Ganguly.India’s first match in the Champions Trophy is against Pakistan on the June 4. The men in blue will also face Sri Lanka and South Africa in the group stage of the tournament.
Defending champion Andy Murray and fourth seed Rafael Nadal will lead the men’s singles charge at Wimbledon on Friday as they play their third-round matches on Centre Court.Both of them have displayed superb form and are yet to drop a set at this year’s championship. Britain’s Murray, the number one seed, will face 28th ranked Fabio Fognini from Italy while Spaniard Nadal will go up against Russian Karen Khachanov, ranked 30.It is a big year for British players, with four having reached the third round at Wimbledon for the first time in 20 years.On the women’s side, Heather Watson will take on former world number one Victoria Azarenka from Belarus while number six seed Johanna Konta — a favourite to win the title — faces Greece’s Maria Sakkari on Court One.Tenth seed Venus Williams and French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko are also in action, going up against Japan’s Naomi Osaka and Italy’s Camila Giorgi respectively.
Manchester City Lahm lauds ‘unbelievable’ Guardiola on the back of record-breaking Man City season Chris Burton 21:47 6/5/18 FacebookTwitterRedditcopy Comments(0) 
Getty Manchester City Guardiola Bayern München Germany Bundesliga World Cup Premier League Having worked with the Catalan at Bayern Munich, a World Cup winner considers the former Barcelona boss to be one the best coaches in the business Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been hailed as an “incredible” coach by Bayern Munich legend Philipp Lahm, while Germany manager Joachim Low is considered to be “excellent”.The Catalan has enjoyed success wherever he has been, with a trophy-laden career taking him from Camp Nou to the Etihad Stadium via the Allianz Arena.A Premier League and Carabao Cup double was secured in 2017-18, providing Guardiola with his first silverware in English football. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Goalkeeper crisis! Walker to the rescue but City sweating on Ederson injury ahead of Liverpool clash Out of his depth! Emery on borrowed time after another abysmal Arsenal display Diving, tactical fouls & the emerging war of words between Guardiola & Klopp Sorry, Cristiano! Pjanic is Juventus’ most important player right now There is the promise of plenty more to come, with Lahm having seen firsthand how productive the 47-year-old can be once he gets a squad buying into his methods and playing to their potential.The former Bayern captain told BBC Sport: “Pep has an idea which I rate as superb. How he prepares his sides is unbelievable – the analysis of your own game, but also the analysis of your opponent. He has an idea of how to face the opponent and he provides solutions for his players.“That was a perfect fit for my game. It was always a huge joy for me. I think he also used me a little bit to implement his style into the team. I had a lot of fun working with him.”Guardiola once called Lahm “one of the most fantastic players I ever trained in my life and one of the most intelligent”, with the legendary full-back quick to repay that compliment.He added: “It is a huge compliment. We just enjoyed sharing ideas about football. It was tremendous fun. And I think he also enjoyed talking to me about football. We had similar ideas. He always provided the players with solutions. It was a privilege for me.”Another manager Lahm savoured success under during a glittering career is Germany coach Low.
Together they tasted World Cup glory in 2014, with the 58-year-old having recently committed to a new contract through to 2022.Lahm considers that to be good news for Die Mannschaft, with a return to club management put on hold for now.“He is an excellent coach and could work as a coach everywhere,” said Lahm.“But there is a difference. I always find it really hard to compare coaches – especially when you look at national coaches and club managers. At a club, you work on a daily basis. You work on forming a team.“The difficulty with the national team is that you sometimes only have the players for four days. Afterwards, maybe you don’t see each other for three or four months. That is not easy. I think those are two different things, national coach and club manager. You need to be able to do both, neither is easy.”
The Mount Olivet Boys’ Home welcomed Jamaica Information Service (JIS) team members on Saturday, December 2, for their annual Christmas Luncheon and Awards Ceremony.This was the ninth such visit since the agency adopted the Home located in Walderston, Manchester, in 2009.For Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the JIS, Mrs. Donna-Marie Rowe, who was part of the visiting team, the agency’s investment in time and attention is bearing fruit.“My team is dedicated to the Boys’ Home. Their volunteerism is remarkable. We salute the sponsors, who continue to provide support, and commend the management of Mt. Olivet for their care.We believe the young men will grow up to be assets to society,” Mrs. Rowe said.The CEO announced that a new project is to be launched – the Mt. Olivet Boys’ Home Camera Club – through which the boys will be taught photography skills by JIS professionals.Patrick Newman, Director of the Home, which is this year celebrating its 50th anniversary, welcomed the announcement and pointed out that the love and dedication by the JIS team is evident and appreciated.“This is genuine. I can feel it – the love and the joy that the team brings to the boys, and the smiles that you put on their faces; it’s just awesome,” he said.This sentiment was echoed by Public Relations and Marketing Manager at JIS, Andrea Braham. “It was a good experience. The boys seemed genuinely happy to see the JIS team. It felt like a family,” Miss Braham said.The JIS team participated in singing, dancing, gift giving, presenting awards, the anniversary celebration and having the meal with the boys.Local manufacturer, Lasco Foods, is among the long-standing sponsors of the Mount Olivet Boys’ Home.Marketing Assistant of Lasco Foods, Shawn Walker Bennett, in explaining the reason the company maintains the relationship with JIS and the Home, noted that “it’s a worthy cause… and we always try to help persons who are in need”.Other sponsors included Rainforest Seafood, Caribbean Broilers, JP Tropical Foods, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, and staff members of the JIS.Also visiting the boys were members of the Rotary Club of St. Andrew. Marketing Assistant of Lasco Foods, Shawn Walker Bennett, in explaining the reason the company maintains the relationship with JIS and the Home, noted that “it’s a worthy cause… and we always try to help persons who are in need”. Story Highlights Patrick Newman, Director of the Home, which is this year celebrating its 50th anniversary, welcomed the announcement and pointed out that the love and dedication by the JIS team is evident and appreciated. The Mount Olivet Boys’ Home welcomed Jamaica Information Service (JIS) team members on Saturday, December 2, for their annual Christmas Luncheon and Awards Ceremony.
Kennedy’s last week of original episodes before he retires as host of the show, will air the week of June 24th, and Ayed will kick off the new season of IDEAS in September 2019. As producer and host, Ayed will chase new ideas and challenge diverse perspectives alongside listeners.“I have dedicated my career to discovering the world, covering some of its most intense moments. I had the rare privilege of witnessing monumental events up close, learning about the ideas and movements transforming the world first hand,” said Ayed. “While I’ve investigated the why, how, what, when and where, I’ve had a burning ambition to go deeper. I am passionate about the opportunity to finally connect the disparate dots, and to marshal all my energy to uncover the critical ‘why’.”“Paul Kennedy took listeners on incredible journeys into thought that always promise a surprise or two. These are the reasons I have been an Ideas listener for years,” added Ayed.Paul Kennedy has been the host of IDEAS since 1999, when he succeeded the legendary Lister Sinclair. He won national and international recognition for his work, including an ACTRA award for best Canadian radio documentary.Each episode hosted by Kennedy in the week of June 24–28, 2019 will revisit documentaries and projects that go back over his four decades as a contributor and host, including his first IDEAS documentary, The Fur Trade Revisited (1977).For nearly two decades, Nahlah Ayed has covered the major stories of our times: from the international refugee crisis, to the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine, to the Brexit referendum and the political chaos that follows, to the international diplomatic efforts to sign agreements on Iran’s nuclear capability and tackling the climate crisis. Her work has been recognized repeatedly, through multiple national and international awards and countless nominations, as well as three honorary degrees from Canadian universities for distinguished achievement.A former parliamentary reporter for The Canadian Press, Ayed is a graduate of Carleton University’s Master of Journalism program. She also holds a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a B.Sc. in genetics from the University of Manitoba. Ayed was born and raised in Winnipeg and is the author of A Thousand Farewells, a book about refugeehood.IDEAS is CBC Radio One’s program of contemporary thought, exploring everything from culture and the arts to science and technology to social issues. Challenging Canadians to think analytically for over 50 years, Ideas is best known for its ground-breaking documentaries and mixed formats that explore ideas that matter the most to Canadians. The program airs weekdays on CBC Radio at 9 p.m. ET (9:30 p.m. NT) and repeats weekdays at 4 a.m. ET (4:30 a.m. NT). For more information about upcoming episodes and behind the scenes extras, visit: http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/.About CBC/Radio-Canada:CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world. CBC today revealed Nahlah Ayed, award-winning foreign correspondent for CBC News, will become the new host of the iconic national CBC Radio One show, IDEAS. Longtime host Paul Kennedy announced earlier this year that he would step down at the end of the current season.Nahlah Ayed has been based in London for seven years. A veteran of foreign reportage, she’s covered major world events over nearly two decades in Europe, Asia and Africa, including nearly a decade living in and covering conflicts in the Middle East.“Nahlah has traveled the globe covering major world events. We welcome her home to Canada, and look forward to her unique perspective, and to watch her build on the accomplishments of Paul Kennedy,” said Cathy Perry, Senior Director of CBC Talk Radio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twitter Login/Register With: Facebook LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown helped his party become dominant in California politics during his eight years leading the nation’s most populous state, and less than a month before leaving office, he is predicting it will be difficult for his successor to control Democrats’ hunger for more spending and rules.The leader of California Democrats has kept lawmakers in check by limiting spending on social programs in favour of saving it to protect against a future economic downtown. He sometimes butted heads with legislative leaders, warning spending too much now could hurt taxpayers or require budget cuts later.Democrats hold all statewide offices and expanded their supermajority in the Legislature last month, allowing them to approve tax hikes and virtually any law without Republican support.“I’d say we’re in for contentious times and for too many rules, too many constricting mandates and probably too much spending,” Brown told the Associated Press in an interview Tuesday.He said Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom may have a hard time keeping fellow Democrats in check because “he’s got to please some of these groups enough of the time to still be viable as a political leader.”In the interview, Brown called for more direct discussions about the danger of wildfires to force officials and residents to act, pushed back against critics who say he’s too friendly to oil companies, and chided world leaders for failing to tackle climate change with urgency.He leaves office Jan. 7 after wrapping up a record four terms, first from 1975 to 1983 and again since 2011.The governor’s comments on Democratic priorities reflect the more frugal attitude he brought to Sacramento. He entered office with a $27 billion deficit and leaves a nearly $15 billion rainy day fund and a surplus.Brown, however, has backed his own expensive plans. He used Democratic majorities to pass a controversial gas tax increase for road maintenance and has steadfastly defended a $77 billion project to build a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco that’s seen repeated delays and cost overruns.While he warned against overspending, he said he expected dissonant voices among the Democratic majority — a result of what he called the party’s greater diversity of people and ideas. Republicans, he said, hold a “slavish adherence” to a limited agenda and President Donald Trump.Brown is leaving office on the heels of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. Flames tore through the town of Paradise last month, killing at least 86 people and destroying more than 12,000 homes. He’s blamed climate change for more destructive blazes in recent years and warned things will worsen.The governor called the need to limit building in areas at high risk for wildfires “obvious” but said it’s “politically painful” to implement when people want to rebuild their homes and developers see opportunities.People who choose to live in high-risk areas need to plan escape routes, build cellars and manage vegetation, he said. And the state must provide more information about the true danger of wildfires, he said.“I don’t think governments lay out for people the stark warning: You may die in this particular environment,” Brown said.Wildfires offer Brown an opportunity to call for swifter action against climate change, which is making California drier and more prone to flames. He’s urged action beyond California, working with the U.N., creating a global coalition to reduce climate emissions and holding meetings in China and Russia.He’s working on a climate-focused partnership between the University of California system and Tsinghau University in Beijing he can dive in to when he leaves office, he said. His spokesman Evan Westrup declined to provide more details.Critics say Brown has a blind spot when it comes to oil because he keeps allowing drilling permits and new wells. Brown scoffs at the claims, saying the state’s overall oil production has dropped steadily since the 1980s. He says simply stopping it won’t halt demand. He’s pushed to make electric vehicles more accessible and worked to improve public transit.“The problem is burning oil, consuming it,” he said. “The only way you stop that is electric cars, land use so you don’t have to travel so far and other forms of reducing carbon emissions.”He said climate change advocates still must be careful to not overplay their hand. He pointed to a planned fuel tax in France that led to violent protests. French President Emmanuel Macron early this month backed down on the tax, which critics said would hurt the working class.Brown said Macron didn’t add enough rebates or tax credits to cushion the blow for low-income people.“You have to get the right idea, you have to be careful and nuanced and then you have to be very skilful in the execution, and you can fail in many different ways,” Brown said.In a common theme, he ended the interview with a global wake-up call.“The threat of nuclear annihilation and climate change on a permanent basis looms, and therefore it is time for new leaders to rise up and make the case and mobilize the people for what needs to be done,” he said. “What needs to be done is unprecedented, and therein lies the dilemma.”Kathleen Ronayne, The Associated Press
BEAVERLODGE, AB. – Beaverlodge RCMP are seeking the publics help in identifying a robbery suspect.On March 8th, at roughly 12:53 p.m., a man entered the Beaverlodge Hotel and Tavern and played VLT’s. The suspect then approached an employee and demanded that she open a safe and appeared to have a weapon.The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of money. No one was injured. The suspect is described as Caucasian standing 5’5″ tall with light possibly orange facial hair. He was wearing track pants, a sweater and toque which were all black in colour, sunglasses and grey running shoes.Police are requesting that if you have any information about this incident to please call the Beaverlodge RCMP at 780-354-2955 or call your local police detachment. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by internet at www.tipsubmit.com.
Sam Hall, senior partner at Hall Brown Family Law, which supplied the figures, said the agreements were serving “a valuable, practical purpose quite apart from that for which they were originally intended”.“As opposed to offering a constructive way of dividing assets should their marriage not last the course, they are highlighting very real and serious differences before a wedding which can actually affect the chances of a couple staying together in the long run.“Some of those with whom we have dealt have initially expressed great regret at what happened but later acknowledged that their break-ups were less upsetting than might have been the case had they divorced,” he said.Joanne Edwards, partner and head of family law at Forsters LLP, said couples should allow enough time to draw up an agreement to minimise the stress and risk of a split.“It is certainly true that couples considering a pre-nup should not under-estimate how difficult the discussions can become and ensure that they allow plenty of time so that neither party feels under pressure to sign,” she said.Different approaches can work for different couples and reduce the possibility of strife, she added.“Solicitors working on pre-nups try to approach matters sensitively and will be guided by each couple as to whether they would sooner sit around a table and discuss matters in the open, or have the lawyers do the negotiations with the clients at arm’s length,” she said.Family lawyers have been campaigning to make pre-nups legally binding, arguing that some couples are put off marrying when they discover that there is no watertight way to set out a financial agreement before marriage.Under current law a prenuptial agreement would be consulted by the courts but can be overturned if one partner successfully argues that it is unfair. A survey published earlier this year by Forsters suggested that two thirds of family lawyers had seen a rise in the number of agreements since 2010.Almost half of those surveyed had taken on more than six new cases in the past year and 13 per cent had taken on 16 or more.An increasing number of those entering the agreements are now between 31 and 45, suggesting that an older average age of marriage is leading to couples with more complex finances who are worried about what could happen in the event of a divorce. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average age at marriage has risen to 34.6 years old for women and 37 years for men.Resolution, the association for family lawyers, is calling for a change in the law to make the agreements legally enforceable.It said that “the unenforceability of pre-nuptial agreements may in fact undermine marriage and lead to people deciding not to marry.” Solicitors working on pre-nups try to approach matters sensitively and will be guided by each couple as to whether they would sooner sit around a table and discuss matters in the openJoanne Edwards, head of family law at Forsters LLP Pre-nuptial agreements are rising in popularity as couples seek to protect family wealth from a potential future split. But figures suggest they could be more trouble than they are worth as almost one in four couples who consider them never actually go through with the wedding.Some lawyers say enquiries about the agreements have risen by as much as 70 per cent over the past decade, but those who look into protecting their wealth can end up killing the marriage before it has even begun.One large law firm said that 21 per cent of engaged couples who enquired about a prenup called off the wedding after speaking to lawyers, and a further three per cent actually drew up the documents before changing their minds about getting married.The figures give some ammunition to sceptics who say the agreements undermine the trust and romance of marriage.But lawyers say the couples who decide to break up would have done so anyway – and it is better for the split to take place before the wedding, rather than after. Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings.
A LOUD EXPLOSION has been heard in Lebanon’s capital with black smoke rising from the eastern part of Beirut.The circumstance of the blast were not immediately clear but Lebanon has seen a rise in clashes and tensions in recent months stemming from the civil war in neighbouring Syria between Sunni insurgents and President Bashar al-Assad.Reuters reported that ambulances rushed to the scene in the Ashafriyeh district, a mostly Christian area but police did not confirm casualties.However local media have reported two fatalities and 15 people wounded in the explosion which they claim was a car bomb.Lebanese TV channel MTV reported that the explosion took place about 200 meters from a Kataeb headquarters in the area and at least seven cars were set ablaze as a result of the blast.Image from Lebanese news channel MTV of casualty of the blast.- Additional reporting by Associated PressRead:Irish troops prepare for Lebanon mission>
Robert Lewandowski is not thinking about leaving Bayern Munich anytime soon, despite being linked with lucrative moves away from the clubThe Polish striker is highly-rated within the football world following an impressive eight years in Germany with both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern.In fact, Lewandowski has scored 190 goals in 273 Bundesliga games and is just another four goals shy of equaling Bayern legend Claudio Pizarro as the league’s fifth-highest scorer.Despite having been linked with moves to Real Madrid, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain over the past year, Lewandowski announced he only identifies with Bayern.
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.“There’s a very good chance I’ll be here for a long time yet,” Lewandowski told Sport Bild.“I’m not thinking about going anywhere else. Since putting the rumours to rest, my heart has been 100 per cent with Bayern.“I fully identify with the club. I could definitely see myself ending my career at Bayern.”Lewandowski, who has already scored 22 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions this season, is contracted at Bayern until 2021.
The cause of a raging fire at 505 N.W. 86th St. has been ruled undetermined, and will stay that way because any evidence that would reveal the cause was destroyed, Ken Hill, a Clark County deputy fire marshal, said Tuesday.Officials said the Monday afternoon fire started in an upstairs bedroom. Hill said the fire in Hazel Dell was definitely accidental.Damage has been estimated at $250,000 to the building and $75,000 to its contents, for a total of $325,000.No people or pets were reported injured.The fire was reported about 5 p.m. Monday and crews arrived to find flames roaring out of two large upstairs windows. Besides attacking the flames, at first from outside and later inside, firefighters kept a hose line spraying a house next door, only 12 to 20 feet from the flames consuming the burning home. As a result, little or no damage was reported to the neighbors’ home.A battalion chief soon called for a second alarm, bringing Vancouver engines and crews to the scene.The owner of the home, Elmer Brown, 64, said he was sitting on a couch watching TV when he heard a smoke detector and alerted his wife, Ardis, and two grandchildren, 8 and 9. Ardis Brown had been using a computer; one grandchild was taking a shower and the other was playing a video game in the dining room.“We all got out as we called 911,” he said. The fire was reported around 5 p.m. and about 40 firefighters from Fire District 6 and Vancouver Fire Department rushed to the scene. The house is near Jason Lee Middle School.“A lot of clutter inside the home fueled the fire and made fighting and investigating it difficult,” said Dawn Johnson, a spokeswoman for Fire District 6.