TOUCH FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA OPERATIONAL STAFF WORKSHOP A SUCCESS
Touch Football Australia’s Sport Development Unit has been hosting a staff workshop for operational staff from Sunday 23 September to Tuesday 25 September 2007 in Coffs Harbour.The core of Operational staff were already in Coffs Harbour working at the 2007 X Blades National 18 Years and Under Championships, and the timing of the workshop fitted well from a logistical and cost effective perspective.The conference has brought together 17 TFA staff from all over the nation to increase knowledge and share their experiences in the delivery of the sport.The Operational Workshop has replaced the National Development Officer Conference.TFA National Participation Manager Marianne Maguire, who was a driving force behind the revamped workshop, is excited about the outcomes the conference will achieve.“We really needed something to help develop the knowledge and share the collective ideas of our operational staff who are decision makers as well as key delivery personnel – people such as Operational Managers, and Sport Development staff who need to continually be challenged and educated to ensure we deliver the sport to its full potential,” Mrs. Maguire said. Topics for presentation have include: Overview of TFA and discussion of roles for staff, Marketing and Branding, Product Knowledge and Professional Development, National Operations Units updates, Trends of the Game, Legal Issues for Affiliates, Finance, Information Technology, and the ASET Program. “Facts Sheet” will be completed by staff members on each of the presented topics to assist with the formation of Operational Manuals for existing and new staff. Touch Football Australia Board of Management Chairman, Mr. Peter Rooney, and Touch Football Australia Chief Executive Officer Colm Maguire were on hand to address the staff and present direction and perspective on the Strategic and Operational endeavours of the sport.“The workshop is another opportunity for us to review, identify, consolidate, and focus on the coordination of our strategic and operational practices. It also provides a fantastic environment for crucial professional development of our staff who are striving to deliver the sport in the best way possible for our affiliated members,” Mr. Maguire said.Guest presenters included Britt Homewood from TFA’s major sponsor Kos Sports X Blades, Michael Broadbent from TFA’s official photographer Michael Broadbent, and various Sport Development Unit staff who gave insights into crucial interest areas that affect the delivery of the sport. The TFA Operational staff, whilst weary from their endeavours in running the X Blades National 18 Years and Under Championships, embraced the Workshop concept enthusiastically.Western Australia’s Operations Manager Angela Doyle believes the workshop offered the chance for understanding and accord across the TFA organisation, and to share ideas with other staff that make valuable contributions to the knowledge well for all.“The key is communication, it is imperative for success, creating links within the organisation, and strengthening us as a unit to deliver like outcomes for the sport,” Ms. Doyle said.The conference will wind up today with all staff heading back to their respective States to build on the knowledge gleaned from the workshop.
ANN ARBOR, MI – SEPTEMBER 10: General view of the fans filling University of Michigan Stadium prior to the start of the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 10, 2011 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)One of the top defensive recruits in the 2019 class has announced some major news regarding his decision. He’s opted to flip his commitment.Stephen Herron Jr., a four-star defensive lineman, had been committed to Michigan, but he’s decided to de-commit from the Wolverines.The No. 5 defensive end in the 2019 class has flipped his commitment, too.Herron has committed to Stanford.The top defensive lineman announced his decision on Twitter.“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” #CardClass19 #FearTheTree pic.twitter.com/XqW0EBV3FK— Stephen Jr. (@stephenherron_) July 23, 2018This is a major loss for Michigan and a huge addition for Stanford. Herron was the second-highest rated recruit in the Wolverines’ class. He’s become the second-highest ranked commit in the Cardinal’s 2019 class.Herron chose Stanford over Alabama, Florida and Ohio State, among other programs.
Cardiff: Skipper Virat Kohli, who is happy with K L Rahul’s timely hundred at No. 4 slot, is not overtly worried with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma’s patchy form in the two World Cup warm-up games ahead of the tournament proper. The skipper gave enough indications that Rahul has sealed his spot at No. 4 with a 99-ball-108 against Bangladesh in the final warm-up game which India won by 95 runs. “The biggest positive from today was the way KL (Rahul) batted at No. 4. Everyone else know their roles. It is important that he gets the runs as he is such a class player,” Kohli said of Rahul who hit a 99-ball 108 after India’s big win in their final World Cup warm-up game. Also Read – We don’t ask for kind of tracks we get: Bowling coach Arun”MS (Dhoni) and Hardik were superb as well,” he added. Dhoni also scored a hundred — a 78-ball 113 — while Hardik Pandya contributed 21 from 11 deliveries down the order. The two senior openers however didn’t get the kind of practice that they would have ideally liked before the first game against South Africa on June 5 in Southampton. Dhawan had scores of 1 and 2 while Rahit scored 2 and 19 against New Zealand and Bangladesh respectively. “We have had two good challenges in the two games while batting first. Shikhar and Rohit are quality players, they become stars in ICC events. Ideally we would have liked to chase today. I understand if guys don’t get going rightaway in this format. In warm-up games, at times, you don’t get the motivation especially because the amount of cricket that we play. Also Read – Bastian Schweinsteiger announces retirement, could join Germany set-up”But I am glad with what we got out of these two games,” Kohli came in defence of the opening duo. He also praised the wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal for picking six wickets amongst themselves. “We were challenged by their batsmen as well but we bowled well and our spinners got wickets too. Bumrah got us the breakthrough and Chahal and Kuldeep got us six wickets,” Kohli said. He said in the World Cup matches the ball might turn a bit in the second half and swing and seam would be important in the first fifteen overs. He said most of the teams winning the toss would want to chase. In warm-up games, often the side fielding second finds it a bit of a drag in the final overs like it happened against Bangladesh where the outcome was clear by the 35th over but match went on till the last over.
Patna: Actor-turned-politician and Congress candidate from Patna Sahib constituency Shatrughan Sinha has movable and immovable assets of Rs 112.22 crore. Sinha, who joined the Congress recently after switching his loyalty of more than three decades with BJP, is locked in a direct electoral battle with Union Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Sinha filed his papers on Monday, the last date for filing of nomination papers for Patna Sahib constituency which would go to polls on May 19. Also Read – 2019 most peaceful festive season for J&K: Jitendra Singh As per the affidavit, Sinha has movable assets of Rs 8.60 crore and immovable assets of Rs 103.61 crore while his wife Poonam Shatrughan Sinha has movable assets of Rs 18.67 crore and immovable assets of Rs 62.65 crore. Sinha, who graduated from FTII, Pune in 1967, has shown Rs 4,58,232 as cash in hand while his wife has Rs 5,95, 366 as cash in hand. The filmstar has Rs 2.74 crore as fixed deposits in bank and Rs 29.10 lakh as investments in shares, bonds, mutual funds while his wife has FD of Rs 10.68 crore and Rs 2.96 crore as investments in shares, bonds, mutual funds, the affidavit said. Also Read – Personal life needs to be respected: Cong on reports of Rahul’s visit abroad The actor possess gold, silver and precious stones valued at Rs 1.03 crore while Poonam Sinha possess jewellery items worth Rs 1.15 crore, the affidavit said. According to affidavit, Sinha possesses seven cars including one ambassador, two camry, one each Fortuner, Innova, Maruti Ciaz and Scorpio all worth Rs 14.80 lakh whereas his wife has a Mercedes car of 2013 make worth Rs 48.20 lakh. Both husband and wife have not taken any loans from banks or financial institutions but both owe an outstanding due in crores to be paid to their actor daughter Sonakshi Sinha. As on March 2019, the outstanding dues that Sinha owes to his daughter stood at Rs 10.59 crore while his wife has taken Rs 16.18 crore from her daughter. As per the affidavit, Sinha’s declared annual income reduced to Rs 63,87,233 in 2018-19 from Rs 1,28,38,400 in 2015-16 whereas his wife’s annual income has increased to Rs 1,34,24,388 in 2018-19 from Rs 53,94,830 in 2014-15. Sinha’s rival and BJP candidate Ravi Shankar Prasad and his wife have less assets in comparison to Bollywood star and his wife Poonam Sinha. Prasad has movable assets of Rs 18.35 crore and immovable assets of Rs 3.74 crore whereas his wife Maya Shankar has movable assets of Rs 1.43 crore but does not possess any immovable assets, as per the affidavit filed by Prasad in his nomination papers. There is no outstanding loans or dues of any bank, financial institutions pending against Prasad or his wife, it said. Prasad owns three vehicles – Toyota Fortuner, Honda Accord and Scorpio SUV worth Rs 48,70,513 while his wife possess a Honda city car worth Rs 11.50 lakh, the affidavit said. Maya Shankar possess 550 gram of gold worth Rs 17.05 lakh while the Law minister has 20 gram of gold worth Rs 62,400. Prasad, who is a well-known Supreme Court lawyer, did his graduation and post graduation from Patna College and he completed his LLB from Patna Law College in 1976-79.
Sebastien Belanger’s friends searched high and low for their missing companion, who was separated from them as the three terrorists slammed their truck outside the Boro Bistro.The people he loved went around all the hospitals looking for him, and launched a campaign on Facebook to find him.They also put up posters around London Bridge, hoping their friend was suffering from amnesia from shock, and that someone would recognise him.They were still desperately waiting for news on Tuesday morning, until it was sadly confirmed their friend was probably dead by his family.His girlfriend wrote earlier: “Thank you so much for all your support. We still have no news. We did a lot of work today with all Sebastien’s friends and family, flyers are all over London,I hope we will see him soon . A tribute to James McMullan 
Sebastien Belanger Tragically, she was not supposed to go out that night, and had plans to babysit.However, the grandmother of the child stepped in at the last minute, leaving her free to go out in Borough Market with her friend.According to her family, she had tickets for the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, but did not go. She also reportedly narrowly avoided the Westminster attack just over two months ago. Credit:PA The search for Mr Echeverria has caused strain between the Spanish government and our own, with multiple senior Spanish politicians hitting out at British authorities for putting the family of a missing Spaniard through an “inhumane wait” after a body thought to be his was found after Saturday’s attack.The family was asked for fingerprints from Mr Echeverria on Monday, but had to wait until Wednesday afternoon for confirmation of his death.James McMullan 
“Londoners and people across the United Kingdom have always displayed strength and resilience in the face of adversity. We recently witnessed this after the attacks in Manchester and in the Westminster area of London. This time will be no different.“These hateful acts do not deter us; they only strengthen our resolve. Canadians stand united with the British people. We will continue to work together with the United Kingdom and all our allies to fight terrorism and bring perpetrators to justice. His friend Robin, 24, said that in the panic, he lost sight of Sébastien. 
Mr McMullan from Hackney, east London had not been seen since he stepped outside the Barrowboy and Banker on Borough High Street, where had had been drinking with old school friends. Five minutes later, the terrorists ploughed into pedestrians on London Bridge before crashing the vehicle directly outside the bar and indiscriminately stabbing people.Despite her indisputable anguish, Miss McMullan, 30, said: “While our pain will never diminish it is important for us to all to carry on with our lives in direct opposition to those who would try to destroy us, and to remember that hatred is the refuge of small-minded individuals and will only breed more.”This is not a course we will follow, despite our loss.” 
“I lit these candles last night in memory of all 7 angels. If you see them please keep them burning for them for us.”Thank you to everyone who has been to pay their respects and to the lovely people that approached me last night.”I read as many of the lovely messages left opposite the burrowboy and banker as I could get to. Thank you to the person who wrote the wonderful poem. It really touched my heart.”On Monday, the family of 32-year-old web entrepreneur James McMullan found he was almost certainly dead after the police notified them his bank card was found on one of the bodies of the victims. “The Government of Canada will not comment further at this time out of respect for the family.” A Canadian woman killed in the London terror attack was the first victim to be identified on Sunday.Seven people were killed and 48 injured when three terrorists in a van mowed down pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing a police officer and revellers around Borough Market with 12-inch knives.Twenty-one of those injured were in a critical condition.Ignacio Echeverria She wrote on Facebook the morning after the tragic news: “Hi everyone, we just wanted thank everyone for all the lovely messages, phone calls and posts about the recent incident. 
She wrote: “I still have no news. Please if anyone has seen him or knows anything contact me.”Miss Bennet, 22, said Mr Belanger was “exactly at the place where the attack happened” and has not heard from him since.Ms Bennet wrote: ““He was watching the football match in the Barrowboy and Banker and when the match was finished he and his two friends started to walk to another bar to have another drink, and there was a car crash or something.“The guys he was with said there were about five to ten seconds when everyone was shouting and they just started running and that’s when they lost him.“One of his friends said one of the guys with the knife was very close by when they started to run.” Credit:https://www.facebook.com/kirsty.boden 
It is not clear whether she was last seen at London Bridge or Borough Market.She is known to have been living in the UK for some time after moving from Loxton, South Australia.Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said four Australians were believed to be caught up in the attack.Two of these have been found recovering from serious injuries, while a 21-year-old woman still remains unaccounted for.South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said it was a matter for Commonwealth authorities to confirm the identity of the second Australian of concern but said the state government was “putting in place all the appropriate measures to provide support for the families that are associated with this particular notification”.Chrissy ArchibaldThe first victim of the London Bridge terror attack has been identified as “beautiful and loving” bride-to-be Chrissy Archibald. “We will not be making any further comments on this tragedy and ask everyone, especially the media, to give us the privacy we need to grieve away from the public eye.”Ms Boden, from the town of Loxton in the state of South Australia, was believed to have assisted a victim during the attack but was not heard from since Saturday night. Instead of fleeing the scene, he reportedly saw a man stabbing a defenceless woman and ran to her aid.In doing so, he was reportedly killed by one of the three terrorists who senselessly murdered eight people at London Bridge. 
The sister of London Bridge terror attack victim James McMullan has visited the tributes members of the public have left to her brother outside the Barrowboy and Banker, where he was killed.Pictures Melissa McMullan posted on Facebook show she has read many of the tributes, including a touching poem, left to her brother and other victims of the attack.Ms McMullan also laid tributes from the family to her brother. She wrote: “This is us. Forever. Love you eternally. You finally get to lay your head. Your baby sis, Melissa”.She wrote on Facebook: “Last night I went back to London Bridge to be close to my James McMullan. I felt drained and I knew he would give me the strength I needed to continue. Melissa is comforted outside the tributes for her brother “He was an inspiration,” his sister Melissa McMullan sobbed.“No words can ever match his essence. There will only ever be one James.“Nowhere else will you find such humour and unique personality – someone who puts his friends above all else.”For the McMullan family, the devastating news brought an end to a period of limbo in which all they could do was scour hospitals, make agonising public appeals and call James’s phone until the battery went dead. A French waiter who died in the attacks was last night named as 27-year-old Alexandre Pigeard.Vincent Le Berre – a barman at Boro Bistro where Mr Piegard worked said he was just two meters away from his friend when he was stabbed in the neck.Just two days before the attack, staff had received training in how to cope with a terrorist attack and Mr Le Berre managed to shepherd 40 diners to safety. But the initial attack happened to quickly to shield his friend.Mr Le Berre’s mother Marie-Jo told the French news site Le Telegramme that her son had contacted her after the attack, and described in his words what had happened.”The bar was full. A terrorist arrived on the roof of the bar and jumped onto the parasol on the terrace, injuring one of my colleagues. He immediately began to attack. One client was killed.”I found myself face to face with the terrorist, just two metres away from me. I saw the hate in his eyes.”I managed to escape him but my friend, Alexandre, didn’t have the chance to. He was stabbed in the neck with a knife.” 
Her mother said she had been “counting down the days” to see her daughter again, who had been au pairing in Herne Hill.Her daughter had been out celebrating a new job in Westminster.”Absolute terror – we were counting down the days to see her, I haven’t seen her for three months, she went in March on this wonderful trip away, life experience,” her mother said. “Saying that, I was encouraging her to do it because life experience at 21 is so good.”But horror, absolute horror.”In a Facebook post titled “Missing from London Terror Attack”, a family friend, who has been working as a nanny, called out for people to share information about her possible whereabouts.“Dear friends please can I ask you to share this post. My friend’s daughter, Sara Zelenak, was last seen on London Bridge and was witness to the terror attacks,” says the message, which has since been removed.“She got separated from her friends and has not been seen since. Her phone has rang with no reply and now the battery must have gone… She calls her mum daily. It’s been over 24 hours with no news from the consulate.”Her mother told a local news site: “The last time I spoke to her was our time Friday afternoon at 4:42 and she said, ‘Oh mum! It’s only 28 days until you and I and dad can have baguettes and cheese and croissants in Paris. “It was somehow peaceful with all the mayhem around me. It’s what James loved about London. How vibrant and diverse it was and it excited him to know that no 2 days would ever be the same. “I’m so excited to go to Paris!’ because she hasn’t been.”She’s a very smart, sensible girl, she is healthy, fit, trim, taut, terrific – she doesn’t do anything wrong in any way.”She’s very sensible, far more sensible than I was at her age.”Miss Zelenak’s stepfather Mark Wallace on Monday said they had received no information from British authorities in the previous 48 hours and her mother Julie was now heading over to the UK to help the hunt.He said Miss Zelenak, a nanny, had been scheduled to babysit on the night of the attack but the child’s grandmother stepped in, meaning she could go out with friends.Mark from Brisbane said: “Authorities in London can’t give any information, they are in a terror lock down, so there’s just no ability to find out or get any information. She has been gone for 48 hours and no one has seen or heard from her.”I’ve contacted every hospital in London. I feel terrible, I don’t know what my name is, I can’t think.”On Tuesday, Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister said Ms Zelenka was one of two Australians for whom the government had “real concerns”.Sebastien BelangerA talented French chef with scores of friends is thought dead by his grieving family, whohave been asked to identify his body after a long wait, they told French media. “I’m very sorry for not replying to you all but I don’t have energy anymore or time I just want to find him and hug him…say I love you and see his smile”.She posted on Facebook as she waited for news: “Mr Belanger, who works at the Coq d’Argent restaurant in the City, had watched the football with friends who was having a last drink in the Boro Bistro when they heard the attackers’ van smash into a wall directly above them. She used to work in a shelter for the homeless before deciding to move to Europe to be with her fiancé.They urged members of the public to volunteer their time and labour or donate to a homeless shelter, saying: “Tell them Chrissy sent you.” In a statement, Mr Trudeau said Canada “strongly condemns the senseless attack that took place last night in London, United Kingdom, which killed and injured many innocent people.”He added: “I am heartbroken that a Canadian is among those killed. We grieve with the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones, and wish all those injured a speedy and full recovery. Young Australian au pair Sara Zelenak has been confirmed dead by her mother.Her family and friends had been desperately searching for her since Sunday night, and finally found out on Tuesday evening that she had been killed in the terrorist attack at London Bridge.Her mother, who had flown to London to find her daughter, shared a post to the woman’s Facebook on Wednesday to tell followers her body had been found.She wrote: “Sara Zelenak is confirmed dead, they found her body and has DNA tests confirmed. Thank you for all the overwhelming love and support from everyone”. “I am slowly getting through all of them and will reply to every single one of you as soon as I can. My parents are finding comfort in all the love and support that we have received over the last few days. Our thoughts are still with the other families also waiting for answers.” Chrissy (Christine) Archibald 
“We started shouting: ‘Seb, Seb!’,” he told France Info.”We have no idea which way he left nor what happened.“I tried to call him but have no news. All Sebastien’s loved ones, including his girlfriend Gerda Bennet, are currently looking for him and giving out flyers in the streets of London.”His girlfriend of eight months was in Malta at the time and headed to London to find him. 
Sebastien Belanger The lawyer fought terrorists with his skateboard She said: “Our beautiful Sara Zelenak. The closest friend to Bea and I since we were in year 7. You bought so much joy into our lives, to me an Bea for so long and also to Mum and Dad, who took you under their wing like no other. I can’t believe we don’t get to grow old together.”Just Thursday I messaged you and you told me everything will always work out. You would be so overwhelmed by the love from everyone and probably be very salty from the dorky pictures we have together that are all over the world hahaha. Rest easy wherever you are, I hope there is lots of KFC and hot boys with you.”Ms Zelenak had called her mother daily from the UK, but these calls were replaced by a deafening silence after she was separated from her friend, with whom she was celebrating her new job in Westminster. Mr Pigeard’s father described his son’s death as an “incredible injustice,” describing him as a “wonderful son, a perfect big brother,” and a “shining young man”.Mr Pigeard was from Caen, in Normandy, but had been living in London for more than two years.He was a fan of electronic music and organised gigs for Cargo, the Caen music venue, and the Nordik Impakt electronic music festival.Frederic Loinard, the mayor of Caen, said: “Alexander was from our town and hugely liked and respected.””He was a kid who loved life,” added the manager of a bar in Rouen, who knew Mr Piegard well.Kirsty Boden The “skateboard hero” who died while reportedly protecting a woman from Saturday night’s terror attack has been confirmed dead after the family suffered an agonising wait for news. The sister of 39-year-old Ignacio Echeverria wrote on Facebook: “Our heart is with our uncles and aunts and cousins, Guillermo Gonzalez Arnau, Javi and guille and all the friends and family who have lost my brother”.The Spanish Government paid tribute to his bravery, writing that he showed “solidarity and bravery in defending a helpless person”.Mr Echeverria worked in money laundering prevention at HSBC and was a keen skateboarder.He was coming back from skateboarding when he stumbled across the terror attack at Borough Market. Credit:Isabel Echeverria via AP An Australian nurse who had been working in London, Kirsty Boden, 28, has been found dead.Her family said in a statement: “Kirsty was loved and adored by her family, friends and boyfriend. She was the most outgoing, kind and generous person who loved to help people. Helping people was what she loved to do in her job as a nurse and in her daily life.“As she ran towards danger, in an effort to help people on the bridge, Kirsty sadly lost her life. We are so proud of Kirsty’s brave actions which demonstrate how selfless, caring and heroic she was, not only on that night, but throughout all of her life. Kirsty – we love you and we will miss you dearly. In a tragic twist, Miss McMullan told the Telegraph that it had been her brother’s first night out for months, as he celebrated the completion of business project to which he had dedicated every waking hour for two years.Their father, Simon McMullan, 61, vowed to continue the work on his “exceptional” son’s e-learning business.He said: “At this point in time the subject is too raw.”I’m just going to try to keep the business that he was doing alive. He was on the verge of signing his first contract, a $1.5 million deal.”Sara Zelenak Melissa’s message to her brotherCredit:Facebook Miss Archibald, from British Colombia, Canada, was among seven people killed, a family spokesperson confirmed.Her grieving relatives today paid tribute to a woman who “believed strongly that every person was to be valued and respected”. Kirsty Boden A poem left for the victims 
She thanked the emergency services for doing their utmost to protect Londoners from the “deranged and deluded individuals” who took seven lives, noting that the police would not be able to formally identify her brother until the coroner completes his report over the next day or two. 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. The au pair’s best friend Sam Hetherington wrote a touching tribute on Facebook. 
Miss Bennet said the last time her boyfriend was online was 10pm on Saturday and that they had last exchanged text messages at about 5pm.Alexandre Pigeard
WHAT ARE OUR politicians doing in the halls of Leinster House?TheJournal.ie lets you know with our guide to what’s coming up to the Dáil, Seanad and various Oireachtas committees today.DÁILLeaders’ Questions begins the day at 10:30am, while members agree to the rest of the day’s agenda in Order of Business just before 11am.Ireland’s politicians will then discuss two bills during today’s session: the Second Stage of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 will be discussed first. It deals with the enforcement of taxi regulations and will eventually replace 2003 legislation. Next up is the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012 which is also at second stage. It will amend the 2011 Act to allow for medium-term expenditure management and expenditure ceilings.From 3.42 pm, there will be discussion on Topical Issues.At 4.30pm, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore will take questions. The Dáil will adjourn at 5.45pm.The day’s Dáil business can all be viewed here.SEANADThis morning has the usual Order of Business and chats on bits and pieces from 10.30am. Then at 11.45am, Jim Higgins MEP will address the country’s senators.The day’s Seanad business can all be viewed here.COMMITTEESThere will be a total of five committee hearings today. A private meeting of the Committee for Health and Children will be held from 9.30am, ahead of tomorrow’s high-profile abortion legislation proceedings.Another early meeting for the Public Accounts committee begins at 10am. Members will be joined by Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan as the force’s appropriation accounts for 2011 are reviewed. Callinan’s report on garda salaries and expenses, pensions, witnesses’ expenses and grant-in-aid to the Comptroller and Auditor General will be discussed. The collection of motor tax will also be scrutinised. (Watch here).The committee which oversees the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement meets in Committee Room 4 at 11.30am. On the agenda today is the Narrow Water Bridge and Women’s Rights in Northern Ireland. Representatives of the Warrenpoint and Dundalk chambers of commerce, as well as Foyle’s Women’s Aid have been invited to speak. (Watch here).At 2pm, the European Union Affairs Committee meets with representatives from Amnesty International Ireland who will outline their recommendations to the Irish EU Presidency. (Watch here).Finally, the Environment, Community and Local Government (Sub-Committee) will discuss the Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013 from 2.15pm. (Watch here).Explainer: How does a Bill become a law?
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram A powerful blast rocked the Kaminia area of Piraeus at around 3 in the afternoon on Sunday.The explosion took place at the “Petrino” bar, on the corner of Aitolikou and Fokidos. Authorities as well as bomb removal experts are already at the site of the explosion, conducting an investigation into what caused the destructive blast.The explosion, which authorities believe was cause by home-made explosives, destroyed an entire wall of the “Petrino” bar and also caused extensive damage to nearby shops and parked cars.The authorities are now looking into the reported sighting of two individuals wearing dark clothes, who were spotted leaving and as yet unknown package and then leaving on a motorcycleLocal sources have said that the explosion could be related to various debts the owner of the bar had acumulated, but this information has not been corroborated by official sources. Source: AthensNews
Les tigres d’Inde protégés par des commandos armésDans une situation de recrudescence du braconnage dans les jungles du sud de l’Inde, les autorités locales ont décidé de mobiliser des commandos armés pour assurer la protection des tigres.L’Inde compte sur son territoire le plus grand nombre de tigres au monde. Le pays abrite même plus de la moitié des tigres recensés sur la planète. Mais celui-ci n’arrive pas à assurer la pleine protection de ces animaux, disparaissant de plus en plus sous le coup du braconnage, du trafic international et de la destruction de l’habitat naturel provoquée par l’urbanisation, l’agriculture intensive et la déforestation. Selon le dernier recensement de l’instance gouvernementale pour la conservation des tigres (Project Tiger), le pays comptait 1.706 tigres en 2010, contre 1.411 quatre ans avant. Mais les chiffres sont à la baisse depuis 2002 où l’on recensait près de 3.700 tigres. Une situation qui apparait d’autant plus sérieuse quand on sait qu’au moment de l’accession à son indépendance il y a 65 ans, l’Inde comptait 40.000 de ces félins. Face aux menaces, les moyens viennent vite à manquer aux gardes forestiers. Le gouvernement du Karnataka a ainsi annoncé que ce serait désormais une Force spéciale de protection des tigres, composée de 54 patrouilleurs qui se chargerait de la sûreté des deux principales réserves de tigres dans les parcs nationaux de Bandipur et Nagarhole. Un entrainement de 3 mois a formé ces hommes et les gardes forestiers aux techniques de survie dans la jungle ainsi qu’au maniement des armes afin de se protéger des braconniers, souvent violents. 500 millions de roupies pour lutter contre le braconnage À lire aussiVoilà à quoi ressemblent les cris de petits rhinocérosD’autre part, une autre équipe devrait être mobilisée pour protéger les trois autres principales réserves du pays, selon B.K. Singh, le responsable de la protection forestière du Karnataka. “Nous projetons de mettre en place une autre équipe de 54 personnes qui sera déployée dans les trois autres réserves de tigres de l’Etat”, a-t-il déclaré cité par GoodPlanet.info.Depuis 2006, 25 tigres auraient été tués par des braconniers, selon le département local des forêts. Ils seraient ainsi revendus en Chine qui les utilise notamment pour des remèdes de médecine traditionnelle. Outre la décision du gouvernement du Karnataka, l’Autorité nationale de conservation des tigres (NTCA) a décidé de réserver 500 millions de roupies pour former, armer et déployer des commandos similaires dans 13 réserves de tigres en Inde. Le 7 janvier 2012 à 11:38 • Maxime Lambert
Exploitation des gaz de schiste : vers d’autres méthodes que la fracturation hydraulique ?Vendredi dernier, le Conseil constitutionnel a confirmé la loi interdisant la fracturation hydraulique pour exploiter les gaz de schiste. Une décision saluée par le président François Hollande et beaucoup d’autres. Mais le doute demeure quant à l’utilisation d’autres techniques. La fracturation hydraulique ne sera pas utilisée en France. C’est la décision qu’a prise vendredi le Conseil constitutionnel en validant l’interdiction de cette technique pour exploiter les gaz de schiste. C’est la première fois que le Conseil constitutionnel se prononce sur la loi du 13 juillet 2011, adoptée au terme de plusieurs mois de mobilisation en France contre les gaz de schiste. C’est la société texane Schuepbach qui était à l’origine de la question prioritaire de constitutionnalité (QPC) soumise au Conseil.En effet, celle-ci contestait la légalité de l’abrogation qu’ont connu deux de ses permis de recherche à Nant et Villeneuve-de-Berg, dans le sud de la France. Lors de l’audience tenue le 24 septembre, l’avocat de la société avait ainsi estimé que l’annulation des permis constituait une application “trop rigoureuse” du principe de précaution. “Il n’existe aucune étude démontrant que la fracturation hydraulique présente le moindre risque”, avait affirmé Me Marc Fornacciari repris par l’AFP.La fracturation hydraulique consiste à créer des fissures dans les roches riches en hydrocarbures en injectant à haute pression un mélange d’eau, de sable et d’adjuvants chimiques. Or, cette technique est vivement dénoncée en raison de son impact environnemental et les risques de pollution et d’activité sismique qu’elle engendrerait. Mais le Conseil n’a pas donné raison à la société texane, estimant que les dispositions de la loi de juillet 2011 “sont conformes à la Constitution”. Une décision saluée Cette loi “avait été votée par la majorité précédente et j’avais toujours dit qu’elle devait continuer à être la règle qui devait prévaloir en matière de gaz de schiste. Il était important que le Conseil constitutionnel lui donne maintenant toute sa place et toute son autorité. Cette loi était plusieurs fois contestée, elle est maintenant incontestable”, a réagi le chef de l’Etat, François Hollande à l’annonce de la décision du Conseil. Le ministre de l’Ecologie Philippe Martin a également salué la décision indiquant que “c’est une victoire juridique, mais aussi écologique et politique”. “Avec cette décision, l’interdiction de la fracturation hydraulique est générale et absolue. Elle s’applique à la recherche et l’exploitation des hydrocarbures conventionnels et non-conventionnels. La loi du 13 juillet est désormais juridiquement inattaquable”, a indiqué cet opposant de longue date à l’exploitation des gaz de schiste repris par l’AFP.Rechercher d’autres méthodes ?Toutefois, si la France a fermé la porte à la fracturation hydraulique, le dossier des gaz de schiste n’est pas complètement refermé. Car d’autres méthodes d’exploitation pourraient voir le jour, comme l’a laissé entendre François Hollande. “Cette loi prévoit uniquement l’interdiction du gaz de schiste par fracturation hydraulique, elle n’empêche pas la recherche dans d’autres domaines”, a déclaré le président. Un point de vue apparemment partagé par Anne Lauvergeon, ancienne présidente d’Areva.Interrogée dimanche sur Europe 1, celle-ci a en effet estimé que l’interdiction prononcée par le Conseil constitutionnel n’entravait en rien la recherche dans l’exploitation des gaz et pétrole de schiste. Elle a même précisé ne pas comprendre le débat sur l’utilisation de la fracturation hydraulique : “il faudrait d’abord regarder si ces gaz de schiste existent ou pas, commencer par faire un inventaire… avant de se battre sur comment on va l’exploiter”. À lire aussiGaz de schiste : l’AIE plaide en faveur de son développementPourquoi, parce qu’on a parlé de fracture hydraulique, on dit “il n’y a plus rien à faire, on ne cherche pas ?”, a-t-elle interrogé. “Si la fracturation hydraulique pose un certain nombre de problèmes comme on l’a vu aux États-Unis […], je crois qu’il faut qu’on laisse la possibilité à l’expérimentation avec d’autres méthodes. Surtout si nous avons effectivement des gaz conventionnels sous nos pieds de l’équivalent du Qatar”, a indiqué l’ancienne présidente d’Areva.Le principe d’innovation Il “faudrait qu’on équilibre par un principe d’innovation le principe de précaution ancré dans la Constitution. Sinon, l’application du principe de précaution, c’est on s’assied sur un trottoir et on attend la fin”, a-t-elle déclaré ajoutant “moi j’ai compris que la loi n’empêchait absolument pas de chercher d’autres méthodes”. Dans cet esprit, Mme Lauvergeon a remis vendredi un rapport au président Hollande sur sept secteurs d’innovations technologiques et industrielles pour la France à l’horizon 2030. Le 14 octobre 2013 à 18:03 • Maxime Lambert
The former England national team footballer took his first coaching role as an assistant manager to Dean Smith in Championship’s Aston VillaJohn Terry is working on his first coaching role as an assistant manager in his former club Aston Villa.The English Championship club has recently hired Dean Smith, who will be Terry’s boss on this new challenge.But the former national team footballer wants to be a manager himself, although it will take more time for this to become true.
Cowley explains why he changed his mind about Huddersfield Manuel R. Medina – September 9, 2019 Last week Danny Cowley rejected the chance to coach Huddersfield Town in the English Championship, but today he accepted saying it was a good opportunity.“I have aspirations to be a manager one day but that is in four or five years – I’m nowhere near the finished article,” Terry said according to Team Talk.“Even my first day was a real eye-opener for me – as a player you don’t realize the depth and the amount of work that goes on.”“You turn up as a player and get on with the session. Yesterday we were going through it for an hour beforehand, and then another hour and a half afterward,” he added.“I am still building my ideas and my philosophy. I have learned over the years from many great managers – I am a sponge and I am keen to learn from him [Smith] and [assistant] Richard O’Kelly.”
00:00 /01:10 X To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code: Share 
On Monday morning, Demetria Cain stood at the entrance of Codwell Elementary and gave cheery shout-outs to students and their parents. She estimates she gave at least 200 hugs on back-to-school, which felt different for many students and teachers recovering from Harvey’s floodwaters.“Especially with everything that’s going on, to have the students back in school to have a different environment, to be here with their friends, it helps,” Cain said. “To see them come in and have smiles on their faces and their parents have smiles on their faces, not knowing what they’ve been through, we just want to be positive, to keep them positive as well.”More than 250 schools in Houston welcomed back thousands of students and teachers Monday, as the state’s largest school district finally kicked off the school year.Harvey’s floodwaters and damage caused a two week delay, but Superintendent Richard Carranza said they were able to open more schools Monday than originally planned. Some schools are still closed, and rolling start dates will continue through Sept. 25, for now. Carranza said that crews are moving quickly and they’re trying to beat that date.At a press conference in an elementary school library, Mayor Sylvester Turner praised the district’s work. And he pledged to support Houston schools as they not only recover from Harvey, but also face the tough challenge to improve at least 10 chronically failing schools, or face a state-appointed board of managers.In the meantime, Carranza urged families who are displaced to attend whichever school they can access, adding that attendance rules will be more flexible during this recovery period.“You know, like the old song, ‘Love the one you’re with?’ Go with the school you’re near, OK?” Carranza said. “We want you in a school because once you’re in school, you’re going to get a supportive environment, you’re going to get three meals, you’re going to get a whole support system.”Carranza said that about 270 teachers weren’t able to report back because they’re still recovering from Harvey themselves, but he expects they’ll all be back in two weeks. A couple dozen schools are scheduled to open Tuesday, and more next Monday. Teachers for those campuses are scheduled to attend training in how to deal with crisis and trauma in the classroom until they start.Carranza said that nine schools are still planned to open in new locations — perhaps vacant buildings or doubled-up on other campuses – on Sept. 25.For educators, getting back to school also felt different this year.“It was almost like a victory march to know that our families were displaced in different areas. And just to make sure that we knew where they were to welcome them back,” said Raquel Sosa-Gonzalez, principal at Bruce Elementary. During the two-delay because of Harvey, Sosa-Gonzalez searched for students at the city’s mega-shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center and after she found them, brought them supplies and gave some informal classes.“And so it was almost like we did it. We made it. We are here, the students are here, we’re ready to learn:” – / 4 Listen
Grass Fires Seen on Satellite #dfwwx #txwx #ctxwx pic.twitter.com/lds2xhGnKk— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) January 22, 2018 FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT / TWITTERFort Worth Fire Department helped contain a wildfire near Interstate 20 and Walsh Ranch in Aledo.A fast-moving wildfire borne by gusty westerly winds forced evacuation Monday afternoon of a nearby subdivision and school and closed two heavily traveled interstate highways in North Texas.Thick smoke from the fire not only closed about 15 miles of Interstates 20 and 30 from Willow Park, Texas, east to the western outskirts of Fort Worth. That smoke could be detected as far as 50 miles to the southeast visually and by radar.The Texas A&M Forest Service said the fire had scored at least 1,000 acres but had been 40 percent contained by late Monday afternoon. All east and westbound lanes are closed on I-20 and I-30 from I-820 in Tarrant County to Farm to Market Road 5 in Parker County due to wildfires. Please delay travel or find alternate route.— TxDOT Fort Worth (@TxDOTFTWPIO) January 22, 2018Aledo ISD evacuated Walsh and McCall elementary schools, the Dallas Morning News reported. Fire line established along Walsh Ranch rd. Fire contained along the East side. pic.twitter.com/izFvC25nZT— Fort Worth Fire Dept (@FortWorthFire) January 22, 2018The National Weather Service had issued a red-flag warning for Monday as westerly winds gusting up to 35 mph combined with dry humidity for a high risk of wildfires throughout North Texas. However, weather forecasters say they expect the wind gusts to diminish overnight, raising hopes for a diminished wildfire risk.Other wildfires were scattered throughout North Texas, some threatening homes. Officials had no immediate word on injuries, however.The combination of gusty northwesterly winds & minimum relative humidities in the teens & 20s will result in elevated fire weather conditions today along & west of a Gainesville to Hillsboro line. #dfwwx #ctxwx #texomawx pic.twitter.com/IgbM8f4MDi— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) January 22, 2018Other grass fires in North TexasDenton County: A fire in Flower Mound, at the northeast corner of FM1171 and U.S. Highway 377, started Monday morning, and after burning about 200 acres was reported under control around 3 p.m.#BREAKING: Several agencies are assisting to contain a large grass fire that has burned almost 100 acres in Denton County near Argyle, officials said. https://t.co/KqU7sJY70l pic.twitter.com/Zx9YvKTVrs— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) January 22, 2018Parker County: A fire near State Highway 199 and Ross Lane also forced evacuations. Grayson County: A fire destroyed one vacant home and a vehicle, but firefighters were able to save several other homes, according to the Morning News. It was 95 percent contained at 14.5 acres.More: Fires were also reported in Weatherford, Decatur and Wise County.3:42 PM: 2 new grass fires have started in Wise county. One near Boonsville and the other just north of Decatur. #dfwwx #txwx #txfire— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) January 22, 2018 Share
The sight of young students trailing around with video cameras and filming a historical monument isn’t very usual. Yet, retelling stories, documenting history and creating an online buzz about monuments are now in vogue with school and college students in India.To help college-going students realise the importance of heritage structures, Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative (CRCI), a Delhi-based body working towards interdisciplinary, community focused heritage conservation is set to kick-start its initiative to educate the young on September 16. Also Read – ‘Playing Jojo was emotionally exhausting’The initiative, aims to bridge ‘the disconnect with the history of the Grant Trunk road in Punjab.’ ‘Students cannot relate with historical monuments because they are unable to connect with the past. There are no memories that they can relate with,’ director CRCI, Gurmeet Rai said.This drive, in collaboration with the British Council targets college students, who learn to document, conserve and therefore develop a connect with historical monuments under expert guidance. Also Read – Leslie doing new comedy special with NetflixRai says, ‘Monuments are no isolated architecture of historical importance. They must be related to people and seen through the lens of ‘people’s monuments’. It’s importance to retell stories to be able to develop a sense of belonging to our past.’ The CRCI also plans to upscale this project to several cities, highlighting the role of college students in retelling historical stories. In its newest chapter, FilmIt India, an initiative by INTACH’s Heritage Conservation and Education services guided school children to film diverse culture and heritage of the city under guidance of documentary filmmakers.The initiative spread across 30 schools in Delhi began with a workshop highlighting the importance of content students must look for, followed by a film-making workshop.
Throughout the United States, when anyone thinks of the American Industrial Revolution, they think of Eli Whitney, who invented both the cotton gin and the first assembly line for firearms. Our history books in schools boast Whitney as the first person to mass produce a product in American History. The books also link Whitney and his cotton gin to southern plantations.One does not, however, recall that there was another Connecticut industry which was mass producing something before Whitney fulfilled his government contract for muskets in 1809. A second Eli, Mr. Eli Terry, was mass-producing clocks in the thousands in Plymouth, Connecticut by 1807.Eli Terry Sr. (1772 – 1852). Photo Courtesy of the PlymouthHistorical SocietyEli Whitney is credited as the first to mass produce anything in the country, based on his 1798 government contract to produce 4,000 firearms by September of 1799. The context in this statement is that Whitney didn’t do it.Not only did he fail to produce even a single musket by 1799, but he also failed to produce the 6,000 others which he persuaded the government that he would have by September of 1800. He didn’t complete this contract until 1809, and all parts had to be hand filed and fitted in a labor-intensive and time-consuming process.Eli WhitneyEli Terry was born at East Windsor Connecticut, and learned the clockmaking trade from Daniel Burnap and the Cheney’s of East Hartford. Terry moved to Watertown, Connecticut in 1793, and set up a clock shop there to avoid local competition.What Terry probably never imagined was that this area would be the clock making capital of the world for over 150 years to come; or that a worker he trained, Seth Thomas, would be a household name in nearly every place in the country up until the 21st century!East Windsor, ConnecticutBy 1795, Terry had set up a clock shop in a section of Watertown renamed Plymouth, Connecticut. In 1805, he established the first water-powered clock factory in the western hemisphere on a brook in his back yard.At this time, a clockmaker would produce on average about one or two dozen clocks a year. In this new shop, Terry began producing 200 clocks a year. The next year, Terry opened up a new clock shop with a much stronger source of water power.A wooden gear shelf clock movement made by Eli Terry, 1825. Photo by Tom Vaughn CC BY-SA 4.0In June 1806, Terry was contracted by Levi G. and Edward Porter, Yankee Peddlers from Waterbury (later the home of the Radium Girls), to produce 4,000 clocks within three years.Terry hired and trained Seth Thomas and Silas Hoadley to work this new factory. By 1808, the first 1,000 clocks were finished, and by 1809, the final 3,000 were delivered. In the fall of 1809, an extra thousand clocks were produced from leftover stock.Photo by Tom Vaughn CC BY-SA 4.0How did he do it? Terry set up a system of interchangeable parts. He used a milling machine, templates, and jigs to produce identical parts every time. Once a set amount of parts were made, he would send the batches over to an assembly line, the first in the country, to assemble and finish the clocks.Terry, who had made about $16,000 in land and cash transactions, sold this factory in 1810 to Hoadley and Thomas and relocated to a much larger river in the western portion of town. It is at this new factory that Terry also became the first person to mass produce a standard shelf clock, which evolved into the modern timepieces we have today.Wooden-gear tower clock installed at Plymouth, Connecticut, 1838. Photo by Tom Vaughn CC BY-SA 4.0Simply put, we credit Eli Whitney as the founder of the American Industrial Revolution because it is easier to link his industry into chronological order with cotton production, slavery, and the ensuing war.The authors of our nations’ history books don’t wish to be bothered with trying to place proper historic figures in their proper places. The American clock industry, which was the first to establish mass production in the US (using interchangeable parts), isn’t something that can be easily related to other historic American events.Eli Terry Sr. (1772 – 1852)On a side note, it is fair to state that Mr. Terry and his entire family were anti-slavery abolitionists. Terry’s house at Plymouth has a secret room in which runaway slaves would take refuge. His son, Henry, had a false basement in his home across the street, for the same purpose.Terry’s legacy left hundreds of clock industries in his region. The town of Plymouth had 83 different manufacturers of clock-related products. Chauncey Jerome, who learned from Terry, set up a clock shop in the neighboring town Bristol, where he was manufacturing 20,000 brass clocks a year by 1839.Bristol, which became the clock making capital of the world, saw over 275 different clock manufacturers through its history. Jerome later established the New Haven Clock Company, and the Waterbury Clock Company, which would evolve into Timex.Seth Thomas, who worked the Porter Contract under Terry was the leading independent clock producer in the region.He died in 1859, and the western section of Plymouth was renamed Thomaston in his honor. Seth Thomas clocks were produced under his name until well into the 21st century.Seth Thomas, clockmakerIn the end, we can conclude that Eli Whitney was, in fact, the first to mass produce firearms, but never invented the milling machine, the assembly line, nor accomplished interchangeable parts.It is Eli Terry who first established mass production using interchangeable parts and the first American assembly line, before Eli Whitney managed to finish his contracts.Read another story from us: Rage Against the Machines: The Beginnings of the Anti-Industrial MovementEli Terry was both the last of the handcraftsmen, and the first American industrialist. He retired from clock making a wealthy man, and occasionally made some brass wall clocks in his free time, before his death on February 24, 1852, at Terryville, Connecticut.
Green Tourism Active (GT-Active) standard has now been recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. This ‘GSTC-Recognised’ status affirms Green Tourism Active’s commitment to promote sustainable tourism products and services.“We are exceptionally proud of obtaining the GSTC-Recognised status. This achievement both highlights and confirms GT-Active’s commitment to sustainability,” said GT-Active Programme Director, Sophie Nortje.The GT-Active standard promotes complete and forward thinking, in-depth assessment of business operations, including sustainability management factors as well as environmental, socio-economic, cultural and conservation efforts. It focuses on changing behavioural patterns through informed consumer choice, education, cost reduction, and public and conservation benefit programmes.The awarded status signifies that a sustainable tourism standard has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Accreditation Panel, in order to be deemed equivalent to the GSTC criteria. This also entails administration of the standard. Till date, 27 standards have achieved the GSTC-Recognised status.“We congratulate Green Tourism Active for taking this step to spotlight that their sustainability standard includes the wide breadth of sustainability components that is proven by gaining the GSTC-Recognised status,” said CEO, GSTC, Randy Durband.