Ben Hill wins second Canberra Cycling Club Championship, now wants Oceania crown – The Sydney Morning Herald

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Ben Hill has secured a second consecutive Canberra Cycling Club championship and now has his eyes firmly set on a maiden Oceania crown in the capitalnext month.

The 27-year-old battled wet conditions at Stromlo Forest Park on Wednesday night to prevail in a sprint finish thanks to his American teammate Alder Martz.

"It was wet which slowed thingsdownand made attacks difficult, everyone pretty much stayed together the whole race then Alder gave me a good lead out and dropped me off on the last corner and I was good enough to hold on from there," Hill said.

"There's always a good turn out at the club champs with double points and medal on the line always adds a bit of excitement, so it was great to win andas long as I'm in town I'll continue to race in it."

Hill will compete in the Tour of Philippines later this month before returning to Canberra for the Oceania Championships on March 11.

"I haven't raced in the Oceania champs in a few years but when I found out it was in Canberra at my home ground I knew I had to race," Hill said.

"One day races can be a bit of lottery but I'd like to give the win a crack, but in a championship event like that it's either first or last.

"It's always great racing on your home course and it finishes with a lap of the Cotter Uriarra loop which I ride everyday, so that's pretty cool."

Hill completed the "Dunlop double" after his housemate Baden Burke claimed the B-grade title to bring two gold medals to the north side suburb.

Brad Carroll took out C-grade, Adam Rohweder was too strong in D-grade and Mia Chamberlain ousted the boys in E-grade.

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Ben Hill wins second Canberra Cycling Club Championship, now wants Oceania crown - The Sydney Morning Herald

Guam could host Oceania, Para tournaments – Pacific Daily News

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Katy Clarke , kclarke@guampdn.com Published 6:54 p.m. ChT Feb. 9, 2017 | Updated 13 hours ago

ITTF Oceania development coordinator Michael Brown visited Guam to determine whether or not Guam was a viable candidate to host the ITTF Oceania Championship and Guam Para Table Tennis Open.(Photo: Courtesy Richard Kalocsai)

Guam is under consideration to host the 2018 International Table Tennis Federation Oceania Championship and Guam Para Table Tennis Open.

ITTF Oceania development coordinator Michael Brown visited Guam this past week to determine whether or not Guam is a viable fit for the competitions.

Whether or not we feel it is financially viable for Guam to host the 2018 ITTF Oceania Championships and Guam Para Table Tennis Open will be decided by the end of April this year, said Brown. First, Guam needs to send their application to the management committee.

NarciSan Agustin, secretary general of Guam's local table tennis federation, said that Guam would be sending its application in the next few weeks.

Brown, who spent a week here meeting with the local federation and inspecting facilities, has made a few visits to Guam over the last five years. He visited schools and assisted theGuam Table Tennis Federation in developing the sport among the youth. He said he has been impressed with the growth in that time.

But whether or not Guam is selected to host the competitions comes down to finances:Brown estimated that Guam would need to pay $30,000-$50,000 to host the Oceania event, a number he believes is attainable. There would also be a return for the island with Brown estimating $250,000 coming in with the tournaments.

While the two tournaments aren't mutually exclusive, both are in 2018. Hosting the Oceania Championship would help Guam with the funds and equipment needed to host the Para Table Tennis Open.

The Oceania Championship has more sponsorship potential, said Brown. If Guam hosts that event, they will receive tables, flooring, etc. Hosting that event make the para table tennis event easier to host. Thats about $70,000 in equipment. From a financial point of view, it would be better to host both.

Brown said the ITTF Oceania Championship is the longest running table tennis event in the region. If selected, Guam would be the sixth-ever nation to host, and the first onein the northern hemisphere.

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Guam could host Oceania, Para tournaments - Pacific Daily News

Oceania Cruises serves up great American adventures in The Great Land – Travel Daily Media (press release) (registration) (blog)

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Travel Daily Media (press release) (registration) (blog)
Oceania Cruises serves up great American adventures in The Great Land
Travel Daily Media (press release) (registration) (blog)
Oceania Cruises offers an extensive array of American experiences in the Last Frontier of Alaska. Sailing San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver, adventurous travellers have 14 departures to choose from between May andSeptember 2017.

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Oceania Cruises serves up great American adventures in The Great Land - Travel Daily Media (press release) (registration) (blog)

Caribbean reports record of 29M visits – The San Luis Obispo Tribune

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Jamaica Observer
Caribbean reports record of 29M visits
The San Luis Obispo Tribune
The Caribbean received a record number of visitors last year as arrivals topped 29 million, tourism officials announced Thursday, and they said growth should continue this year, though at a slightly slower pace due to uncertainty over U.S. President ...
Number of Caribbean visitors rose 4.2% in 2016, says CTOTravel Weekly
Caribbean tourist arrivals hit all time highJamaica Observer
Caribbean wary of Trump after setting record of 29M visitsBristol Herald Courier (press release) (blog)

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Caribbean reports record of 29M visits - The San Luis Obispo Tribune

Puerto Rico edges Mexico for Caribbean Series title – MLB.com

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"Being my first year as a manager in Puerto Rico and knowing that Puerto Rico has not won in 16 years brings a lot of joy," said Puerto Rico manager and former Major Leaguer Luis Matos. "I'm very happy and I'm very excited. We've been down in every series. We were 0-3 and we came back with three wins, and we are champions right now."

A team from Puerto Rico has won the Caribbean Series 14 times, but the island had not taken home the title since Santurce won in 2000. Caguas had not won the Caribbean Series title since 1987.

Both streaks are now over.

"This is unbelievable and it's a feeling I've never felt before," said Twins Minor League pitcher Dereck Rodriguez. "It was a dry spell for Puerto Rico, but we broke that and hopefully from now on, it becomes a tradition."

A pitchers' duel for most of the game, Yadiel Rivera, who played 35 games in the big leagues with the Brewers last season, led off the top of the 10th inning with a double. He moved to third base on a bunt by Phillies Minor Leaguer Jesmuel Valentin and scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Morales, who was in Class A with the Braves last season.

It was quite a week for Puerto Rico. It lost its first three games of the tournament before defeating the Dominican Republic, 10-2, on Saturday. On Monday, Puerto Rico topped Venezuela, 9-6, in the day's first semifinal game.

Next year's Caribbean Series is scheduled for the first week of February at Estadio Antonio Herrera Gutierrez in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Cuba, a special guest during the past four tournaments, could return for one more year in that capacity and start the process to become a full member of the Caribbean Confederation. There's a chance Cuba could play host to the Caribbean Series in 2020 in Havana.

"If it depended on the Caribbean Confederation, Cuba could be a member and host just as other member leagues do," Caribbean Confederation commissioner Juan Francisco Puello Herrera said. "The problem with Cuba is that it doesn't depend on us, but on limitations due to political matters. Cuba even sent us a letter saying they wanted to be a member and possibly host a Caribbean Series in Havana in 2020. That would depend on us, too, but there are limits because of politics. Once that is resolved, Cuba could absolutely be a member of the Caribbean Confederation."

Panama might have the best chance of joining the Caribbean Series in the near future. Other countries are also petitioning to become members of the Caribbean Confederation.

"We have a meeting scheduled in Panama in early March, probably March 5 and 6," Puello Herrera said. "The presidents of the leagues and some executives are going. We are very interested in having Panama join our roster. I think we need to work out some scheduling and economic issues, but there is definitely an interest in having Panama become a member. As far as Nicaragua and Colombia are concerned, I'd say we have to wait a bit, but we are interested in having them join the Caribbean Confederation as well. It depends on economics and scheduling and finding a format that is viable for these leagues."

In the end, Mexico walked off the field proud. A team from the country has still won four out of the past seven Caribbean Series titles. Mexico also lost to Cuba in the championship game in 2015.

"The support we've received from Mexico's fans, especially from the state of Sinaloa, not just the city of Culiacan, and fans from other countries," Puello Herrera said. "We've witnessed a packed house, even for games in which Mexico didn't play. The attendance was around 19,000. We can't ask for more."

Jesse Sanchez, who has been writing for MLB.com since 2001, is a national reporter based in Phoenix. Follow him on Twitter @JesseSanchezMLB and Facebook. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Puerto Rico edges Mexico for Caribbean Series title - MLB.com

World Bank Appoints New Country Director for the Caribbean – St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)

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St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)
World Bank Appoints New Country Director for the Caribbean
St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)
Press Release:WASHINGTON, February 9, 2017Tahseen Sayed Khan is the new Country Director for Caribbean countries. She will be responsible for maintaining a solid partnership with the countries to address their development and financial ...

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World Bank Appoints New Country Director for the Caribbean - St. Lucia Times Online News (press release)

Caribbean Charm Enjoying New Location – Hartford Courant

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The new location has been a hit with customers, as Caribbean Charm has moved from Main Street to the Victorian-style boutique on the corner of Pitkin Road and New London Turnpike.

Owner Lauren Cheney, a lifelong Glastonbury resident, first opened Caribbean Charm in 2008, occupying the space above Daybreak Coffee Roasters. A move in 2013 to the 2235 Main St. location (now occupied by Nana's Infant & Children's Boutique) brought more visibility, but that brought more customers demanding more inventory.

"Basically, the other place, I was growing out of," Cheney said, adding that as Caribbean Charm's popularity grew, it became necessary to find a larger space. "This place popped up, and I just liked the space. I didn't want to move into a mall. We did a lot of renovations here. It was an office space, but we made a store out of it. We didn't want it to be like a cookie-cutter store."

The new store, at 136 New London Turnpike, opened Oct. 1, and since holiday gift-buying started soon after, there wasn't time for a grand opening celebration. A ribbon cutting on Feb. 1 included several members of the Connecticut River Valley Chamber of Commerce, which Caribbean Charm re-joined.

"The uniqueness of Caribbean Charm is indicative of the work that Lauren puts into the store," said Chamber Ambassador Bobby Dibella. "She has accumulated unique gifts from around the world that represent emphasize a a full body of feminine attire, as well as jewelry, at the right price."

Reactions to the new location have included people who say the new store feels like a well-decorated home, and that they like its proximity to Eric Town Square.

"We like the location," Cheney said. "I've gotten really good response from the customers, because they're already out and about, at lunch or dinner at the restaurants, or at other shops nearby. People come for a lot of gifts on their way, or if someone forgot their earrings, they'll stop here on their way to dinner and get some."

Caribbean Charm Boutique specializes in unique one-of-a-kind women's accessories, featuring Brighton Collectibles, Vocal, Spicy Girl, Spanx, Suzie Sleepers, a pajama line designed by Glastonbury resident Suzanne Balducci, and many other treats.

"What is hot now is Brighton. Brighton is big," Cheney said, of one particular brand of jewelry and pocketbooks. "Our own jewelry is doing well, and the clothes. I'm expanding on the clothes. I like my products to be unique. We also offer monogramming and engraving on-site."

Cheney said future renovations are likely to include larger windows, so passers-by can see more of what Caribbean Charm has to offer. Caribbean Charm also offers online shopping and services.

For more information, visit http://www.caribbeancharm.com.

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Caribbean Charm Enjoying New Location - Hartford Courant

CCGA enters partnership with Caribbean college – The News (subscription)

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College of Coastal Georgia recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Anguilla Community College, located in the Caribbean Islands, in a move that CCGA administrators hope will promote international education opportunities for its students, faculty and staff.

The memorandum, signed Feb. 3, aims to promote cooperation in the exchange of students, faculty and staff for both schools.

Tracy Pellett, provost and vice president of academic affairs at CCGA, and James Lynch, the interim director of international education and director of institutional effectiveness, visited Anguilla this month to meet with government and education officials and to sign the MoU.

CCGA is honored to forge a connection with Anguilla, its people, and its Community College, Pellett said during the signing ceremony. We see immediate partnering and impact opportunities that we will be following up on in the next few months. We are fortunate to have this opportunity to further enhance our cultural, programmatic and professional understanding and development.

LeRoy Hill, dean of studies and acting president of ACC, said during the ceremony that the MoU is guided by the schools interests in several fields, including coastal ecology management, biological and environment science, health sciences, hospitality management, education and maritime research and training.

A seed is a powerful metaphor for this occasion, Hill said. Not only because it represents the opportunities and potential for bearing fruit, but a seed in this setting also represents an historical-cultural connection.

Conversations between CCGA and ACC about forging an international education partnership began several months ago.

During our extended conversations with government dignitaries and education officials, we all shared the same feeling of excitement and optimism given education areas of common interest underscored by a strong focus on student welfare and success through impassioned teaching and learning at the heart of this evolving partnership, Lynch said.

Costal now has four formal memorandums of understanding with international schools. The college also recently signed them with two other Caribbean institutions in Belize Ecumenical Junior College and Stan Creek Independence Junior College. And in 2015, CCGA began a partnership with the American College of Greece.

ACC greatly values the partnership with the College of Coastal Georgia and hopes it will be long lasting and mutually beneficial for both institutions, said Rodney Rey, ACCs chairman of the board of governors.

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Travel Deals – Official Nassau Paradise Island, Bahamas …

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Atlantis, Paradise Island

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One&Only Ocean Club

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Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island

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Save up to 40% at brand new Adult Only All-Inclusive Resort

Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas

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Comfort Suites Paradise Island

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Meli Nassau Beach All Inclusive

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Atlantis, Paradise Island

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Graycliff Hotel

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Sunrise Beach Club & Villas

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Bay View Suites Paradise Island, Bahamas

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The Cove Atlantis

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Atlantis, Paradise Island

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The Cove Atlantis

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Bay View Suites Paradise Island, Bahamas

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SaskTel beaches employees in the Bahamas – News Talk 650 CKOM

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SaskTel beaches employees in the Bahamas
News Talk 650 CKOM
It could be described as Saskatchewan's greatest job and it isn't even in the province. While many are freezing in Saskatchewan's extreme cold temperatures, eight SaskTel employees are living and working in the Bahamas. In July 2016, SaskTel ...

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SaskTel beaches employees in the Bahamas - News Talk 650 CKOM

Wind Overtakes Coal Power in Europe as Turbines Head Offshore – Bloomberg

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Wind farm developers installed more power than any other form of energy last year in Europe, helping turbines to overtake coal in terms of capacity, industry figures show.

European wind power grew 8 percent, to 153.7 gigawatts, comprising 16.7 percent of installed capacity and overtaking coal as the continents second-biggest potential source of energy, according to figures published Thursday by the WindEurope trade group. Gas-fired generation retained the largest share of installed capacity.

With countries seeking to curb greenhouse gas emissions that causes climate change by replacing fossil fuel plants with new forms of renewable energy, investment in wind grew to a record 27.5 billion euros ($29.3 billion) in 2016, WindEuropes annual European Statistics report showed.

Wind and coal are on two ends of the spectrum,said Oliver Joy, a spokesman for WindEurope, in an e-mail. Wind is steadily adding new capacity while coal is decommissioning far more than any technology in Europe.

The group underscored that wind, which only produces power intermittently, hasnt yet overtaken coal share in total power generation.

European wind investment increased 5 percent in 2016 from a year earlier driven by the offshore segment that attracted 18.2 billion euros, the report said. That offset a 29 percent investment decline in the onshore market.

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Wind Overtakes Coal Power in Europe as Turbines Head Offshore - Bloomberg

Should Diamond Offshore (DO) Stock Be in Your Portfolio? – Zacks.com

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We issued an updated research report on Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. (DO - Free Report) on Feb 8, 2017. The leading offshore contract driller reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter 2016 results. However, the stock underperformed the Zacks categorized Oil & Gas Drilling industry in the last three months.

Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), implying that the stock will perform in line with the broader U.S. equity market over the next one to three months.

Diamond Offshore is a leading offshore contract driller with services all around the world. The companys working fleet is much younger than that of most other drilling players. Furthermore, 94% of the rig days for the companys ultra-deepwater units are being booked by top-tier global customers for 2017. This is likely to result in steady cashflows for the company.

As of Dec 31, 2016, Diamond Offshore had a backlog was $3.6 billion. This not only reflects steady demand from customers but also offers an unmatched level of earnings and cash flow visibility. This enables Diamond Offshore to navigate the current uncertain environment better than many of its peers.

Recently, the company reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 53 cents per share that comfortably surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 12 cents. Initiatives for cost control, along with improving efficiencies for rigs, resulted in the better-than-expected earnings.

The bottom line, however, decreased from the year-earlier earnings of 89 cents per share due to considerably low contributions from jackups.

Moreover, Diamond Offshore shares displayed significant pricing weaknesses in the last three months. During the aforesaid period, the companys shared gained 0.5% compared with 27% increase for the Zacks categorized Oil & Gas Drilling industry.

Additionally, the company is overvalued with its Price to Free Cash Flow ratio trending higher than the industry over the past three months. Presently, the Price to Free Cash Flow ratio of Diamond Offshore is 25.04, which is significantly above 6.56 for the broader industry.

Stocks to Consider

Some better-ranked players in the energy sector include Imperial Oil Limited (IMO - Free Report) , Northern Oil and Gas Inc. (NOG - Free Report) and Denbury Resources Inc. (DNR - Free Report) . Both Imperial Oil and Denbury Resources sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Northern Oil and Gas carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

In 2017, Imperial Oils earnings are anticipated to grow 386.6%.

Northern Oil and Gas posted an average earnings surprise of 81.35% in the last four quarters.

Denbury surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters with an average earnings surprise of 283.33%.

Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017

In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest tickers for the entirety of 2017?

Who wouldn't? These 10 are painstakingly hand-picked from 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. They are our primary picks to buy and hold. Be among the very first to see them >>

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Perriello comes out against pipeline and, in a shift, says he is skeptical of offshore drilling – Washington Post

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RICHMOND Tom Perriello, who is running an upstart campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor, said he is opposed to two proposed natural gas pipelines, will not take campaign cash from utility giant Dominion Virginia Power and voiced doubts about offshore drilling something he supported as a congressman.

I will not take one dime from Dominion, but I will sit down with them any time to talk about pragmatic solutions that move us forward, Perriello said at a news conference Wednesday at a park overlooking the James River.

The Democrats announcement came a week after a populist Republican running for governor, Denver Riggleman, appeared at the Capitol with his own anti-Dominion pitch, calling for a ban on political donations from the state-regulated monopoly.

[Riggleman, a contender for Virginia governor, takes on utility giant Dominion]

While Rigglemans appeal was a defense of property rights and an attack on crony capitalism, Perriellos centered on clean energy and jobs. Perriello also said he was skeptical about offshore drilling something he backed during his single term in Congress.

Ive always been very skeptical of offshore drilling, he said. Ive been a big supporter of offshore wind.

Along with a bipartisan group of Virginia congressional members, Perriello sponsored a measure to allow oil and gas drilling off Virginias coast, Energy Tomorrow reported in March 2010. The Republican Party of Virginias website linked to that article last month in a post from Chairman John Whitbeck, who predicted that Perriello would flip on the issue.

I look forward to yet another heart-felt, tear filled Jimmy Swaggart-style Facebook post in which Tom Perriello repents for his previous sins against the church of far-left liberalism, Whitbeck wrote, referring to a long mea culpa Perriello had posted on Facebook to explain an abortion vote he said he now regrets. Hes already apologized for his previous pro-life leanings and support from the NRA. His flip on offshore drilling should be one for the ages.

During his successful 2008 campaign, Perriello called on TV stations to drop ads aired by incumbent Virgil Goode (R), complaining that they included the libelous claim that Perriello opposed offshore drilling, according to a news account from the time, to which Whitbecks post also linked.

In response to a request for comment, Perriello spokeswoman Remi Yamamoto emailed a statement issued when Whitbecks post first appeared.

Tom believes a robust and innovative clean energy sector is key to Virginias inclusive economic future, said Jessica Barba Brown, who was then Perriellos campaign spokeswoman. Throughout his career, Tom has been willing to consider offshore drilling only as part of a comprehensive energy strategy, and only if it is not done in environmentally sensitive areas. He has fought for strong environmental and safety regulations and would continue that track record as governor.

At Richmonds Libby Hill Park, Perriello laid out his opposition to two natural gas pipelines proposed for Virginia: Dominions Atlantic Coast Pipeline project and the Mountain Valley Pipeline Project, a joint venture that does not include Dominion.

Wasting $8.6billion on the technologies of the past and the energy sources of the past, on projects that will largely employ people from out of state and not in Virginia, to transport fracked gas from out of state across our beautiful heritage to other areas is not the way that we keep value in the community, he said.

He said a focus on wind, solar and energy-saving weatherization projects would create more jobs and better protect the environment.

Perriello faces Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in the June Democratic primary. Northam spokesman David Turner said the lieutenant governor supports the pipelines as long as property rights, safety and the environment are protected.

As a doctor and a scientist, Ralph Northam always believes in a robust and transparent process driven by science, facts and property rights, Turner said in an email. This is why he urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Virginias Department of Environmental Quality to hold this process to the highest possible standards with the utmost due diligence given to protecting our natural heritage. This is the logic that has underscored his long-standing opposition to offshore drilling.

Aaron Ruby, a Dominion Energy spokesman, said Virginians strongly support the Atlantic Coast project.

Virginians want new jobs; they want cleaner energy; they want more economic opportunity; and, they recognize that new infrastructure like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is critical to making it happen, Ruby said in a written statement. This project is essential to the economic vitality and environmental future of Virginia. It will create thousands of new jobs, promote cleaner air in our communities and enhance the energy security of our region. Its unfortunate Mr. Perriello has disregarded these important public priorities and the aspirations of most Virginians.

In his visit to the Capitol last week, Riggleman drew attention to two bills aimed at Dominion, both brought by state Sen. J. Chapman Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax). One would have subjected electricity rates to review by the state. The other would have prohibited Dominion and other state-regulated monopolies from donating to legislators and statewide candidates.

Dominion is the largest corporate contributor in Virginia, having plowed $4million into state-level races over the past decade.

Both bills died.

Riggleman, a distillery owner and one of four Republicans running for governor, has tangled with Dominion as a property owner. At one point, plans called for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross 50acres he owns in Nelson County. He has said he is not opposed to the pipeline, but to eminent domain practices that he contends are unfair to property owners.

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Perriello comes out against pipeline and, in a shift, says he is skeptical of offshore drilling - Washington Post

AGL to head offshore amid limited growth options locally – The Sydney Morning Herald

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A little over a decade after it lost hundreds of millions of dollars on poor risk management with an ill-judged foray into New Zealand, energy utility AGL is again planning to expand abroad, although it is tight-lipped on details.

On Thursday, the company outlined a pushinto the gas retail market in WesternAustralia, as it confronts the reality of limits to growth in the local market, with more detail on its move offshore to be clarifiedby year end.

"One of the challenges we have is finding domestic opportunities for growth," AGL's chief executive Andy Vesey said. "Givenour current size, it is very difficult to do anything more than grow organically."

AGLis entering the West Australian market this year, with an investment of up to $100 million as it targets100,000 retail customers, while warning investors it will lose money on the foray, at least initially.

But selling electricity in WA "is not part of our calculus", Mr Vesey said, with the lack of its own generation capacity in that market a disincentive, he said.

With the pending move abroad, Mr Vesey said the plan is to take advantage of his company'srisk management expertise in electricity markets, with the focus on developed markets which are shifting to consumer-led demand.

He was speaking after the release of December-half earnings which disclosed higher wholesale electricity prices had offset lower volumes of electricity sold to both household and business sectors. Additionally, AGL boostedsales into the wholesale market, which typically carry smaller margins. One reason for the decline was warmer weather in some markets last winter, coupled with heightened competition for business customers.

Margins were also squeezed in the gas market, as cheaper, long-term supply contacts expired.

"We largely generatewhat we sell, which puts us in a strong position as prices rise," Mr Vesey said, with household electricitycharges to rise annually, depending on competitive pressures, with prices rising more slowly in the business market, for examplewhere many prices are fixed on two-year terms.

"A rising [forward] electricitycurve remains a key driver of profit growth," Mr Vesey said.

In the December half it posted a net profit of $325 million, a reversal from the loss of $449 million a year earlier, with the performance masking a deterioration in electricity sales volumes.

The interim dividend has been hiked to 41from 32, thanks to a change in the dividend policy, as it now targetsa payout of 75 per cent of underlying earnings up from 60-65 per cent paid out previously.

The underlying profit for the half was $389 million compared to $375 million earned a year earlier.

The company has left unchanged its forecast of a year to June underlying profit of $720 million-$800 million, although earnings are expected to reach the top half of this guidance, it said.

The firm outlook saw the shares close up4.3 per cent at $24.

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AGL to head offshore amid limited growth options locally - The Sydney Morning Herald

China Regulator Urges Insurers to Avoid ‘Reckless’ Offshore … – Insurance Journal

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A senior Chineseinsuranceregulator warned against the industrys reckless overseas investment, saying some insurers behaved recklessly when it came to offshore acquisitions, the official Securities Times reported on Thursday.

Chen Wenhui, vice chairman of the ChinaInsuranceRegulatory Commission (CIRC) urged insurers to take a cautious approach when investing overseas, the newspaper said.

Blind outbound investment by insurers, often with high leverage, involved tens of billions of yuan worth of risks in some cases, Chen was quoted as saying.

Some companies behave like a little boy rushing into a candy store when making overseas investment, Chen said.

Chen made the remarks at a time when Beijing is stepping up efforts to stem capital outflows that adds depreciation pressure to the yuan, and threatens to exhaust Chinas foreign currency reserves.

Acquisitive Chinese insurers such as AnbangInsuranceGroup have been shopping overseas in recent years, snapping up foreign companies and properties.

Chinese insurers may boost outbound investment by about $100 billion over the next three years, as they seek to diversify risks, BNP Paribas predicted in December.

($1 = 6.8929 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Samuel Shen and John Ruwitch; editing by Sam Holmes)

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China Regulator Urges Insurers to Avoid 'Reckless' Offshore ... - Insurance Journal

Pastor: We must build bridges between police and local black communities – Fort Worth Star Telegram (blog)

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Fort Worth Star Telegram (blog)
Pastor: We must build bridges between police and local black communities
Fort Worth Star Telegram (blog)
Police officers and other leaders are raised from the community. This means that we must be more intentional and relationally intelligent in connecting the divide that is happening in our communities right now. We value our police officers and the ...

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Pastor: We must build bridges between police and local black communities - Fort Worth Star Telegram (blog)

Appalachian’s Alternative Service Experience among nation’s top 10 higher education institutions for number of programs – Appalachian State University

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By University Communications

BOONE, N.C.Appalachian State Universitys student-led Alternative Service Experience (ASE) program has been ranked 10th in the nation for the number of alternative break programs it offered in 2015-16. The rankings were compiled by Break Away, a national nonprofit organization that supports the development of quality alternative break programs.

The ASE program is a service opportunity offered through the universitys Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) office, a volunteer clearinghouse on campus. The ASE program allows students to use their fall, winter or spring break to serve alongside communities through various domestic and international service programs. Service hours donated by Appalachian students in ASE programs during 2015-16 were calculated at more than 13,500.

Our students have deep commitment for serving the community through volunteer work and service-learning, Chancellor Sheri N. Everts said. Their work has been recognized by the Presidents Higher Education Honor Roll and the Carnegie Foundation for the Engagement of Teaching. Since 2004, Appalachian has contributed more than $22.3 million in value to the High Country community through our Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) program alone.

Out of 178 ranked institutions, the top 10 recognized by Break Away for most programs are, beginning with No. 1: University of Missouri, The Ohio State University, University of Connecticut, Central Michigan University, James Madison University, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland-College Park, University of Georgia, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Appalachian.

Alternative Service Experiences serve as a catalyst for many students to enact positive social change in their own local communities, using the information learned on their ASE for application in a practical and relevant-to-them setting, Heather Jo Mashburn, assistant director of ACT, said. These transformational experiences encourage thoughtful dialogue and intentional service alongside communities, all skills that serve to strengthen the learning that takes place during college.

Appalachian organized seven international and 27 domestic ASE programs in 2015-16. Domestic ASE programs generally take place within 500 miles of Boone and stretch along most of the East Coast. International travel in 2015-16 included service programs to Ecuador, Nicaragua, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and Peru.

Specific locations are not revealed until students have signed up, Mashburn said. Our programs are social issue-focused rather than destination based, she explained. This is a learning experience, not simply an opportunity to travel.

Ten or more of the 2015-16 programs focused on environmental issues. Other focus areas included people with diverse abilities, animal welfare, education, food insecurity, health, affordable housing, immigration and refugee resettlement, LGBTQ and gender equity, race and racism and youth development.

ASE programs are created and led by students, and participants are chosen by a lottery system. Scholarships are available for domestic and international programs occurring over spring break. Scholarships vary based on demonstrated financial need and cost of the program; more than $8,000 has been awarded for ASEs occurring this spring break. Course credit is tied to all international ASE programs, as is the student leader training that is required.

In support of Appalachians sustainability initiatives and in close partnership with the Office of Sustainability, the ASE programs are carbon neutral. Leaders calculate each programs carbon emissions generated throughout the experience, and the cost of the offset is included in that programs budget.

Mashburn said in an effort to improve the efficacy of the international programs, ASE incorporated an intentional language immersion experience. This was made possible through a collaboration with the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and its graduate students preparing to teach Spanish at the college level, the Office of International Education and Development, and a grant received from the universitys Quality Enhancement Plan.

The lottery for the spring 2017 domestic program was held Jan. 30. Almost 200 lottery packets were distributed with only 136 spots for students available. In total over spring break 2017, 198 members of the Appalachian Community will serve domestically, and 90 members of the Appalachian Community will serve internationally. Each ASE is led by two peer leaders, who are undergraduate students, and one faculty/staff member serving as a learning partner.

Appalachians Alternative Service Experience Program immerses students in a service experience in local, domestic and international communities. Its programs are created and led by trained student peer leaders and involve direct service alongside a community, purposeful reflection and relationship building with fellow students. All focus on a particular social or environmental issue with intentional education and reflection incorporated in each program. Learn more at https://ase.appstate.edu

Appalachian State University, in North Carolinas Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 18,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

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Appalachian's Alternative Service Experience among nation's top 10 higher education institutions for number of programs - Appalachian State University

Here’s what went down at the NYC launch of Ashley Biden’s charitable clothing line – Technical.ly

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Ashley Bidenhas made her foray into both fashion and social entrepreneurship with a single venture, launched in partnership with flash-sale site Gilt during New York Fashion Week.

Its good news for grassroots initiatives in Wilmington communities and the entrepreneurs at their helms.

Biden, who has spent the past 15 years in social work and currently serves as the executive director of the Delaware Center for Justice, announced her new ventureLivelihoodin New York on Tuesday. There, the daughter of former Vice President Joe Biden and Second LadyJill Biden introduced what she called Americas coziest and sleekest hoodie to a room full of family, friends and collaborators.

The hoodies are produced ethically and sold exclusively on Gilt, but its the mission behind the brand that should catch the attention of Delawareans.Livelihood aims to be much more than socially conscious apparel its an enterprise that hopes to help create social equity in Wilmingtons underserved communities. Heres how:

From reflectors embedded on sleeves that catch sunlight with a raised fist to the Livelihood logo, everything about the venture looks to be intentional and mission-driven.

Youll notice in the logo theres an arrow [in the logo], and thats symbolic for two reasons, said Biden at the launch. One of those reasons is that between her brothers Beau and Hunter, Biden said there was a family joke that her name should have been arrow. The second, she said, was inspired more directly by the passing of her brother Beau in May of 2015.

I feel like I put my grief into art and into this concept. When my brother passed, life dragged me down and I had no other choice but to shoot forward, she said. The arrow represents my father, the three little arrows are Beau, Hunt and me, and mom is the rod that runs through us.

In addition to support from big names like Rev. Al Sharpton and musician Paul Shaffer(both of whom made appearances at the launch), Livelihood hasgarnered celebrity endorsements from folks like Ben Affleck and Bidens fellow Wilmingtonian, actressAubrey Plaza.

Mona Parikh, Ashley Biden and Patrick Callahan. (Photo by Tony Abraham)

Wilmington leaders came out in full force, as well. Well keep you posted on Livelihoods goals of boosting grassroots initiatives throughout the city starting in the Riverside projects.

Tony Abraham covers Philly's impact community as lead reporter for Generocity. A former Technical.ly reporter in Delaware and Philly, Tony also writes for Red Bull Amaphiko. Though he lives on his Twitter timeline, the Temple University alumnus calls Fishtown home.

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Here's what went down at the NYC launch of Ashley Biden's charitable clothing line - Technical.ly

Germany Is Threatening Biohackers With Prison – Gizmodo

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Over the last few years, advances in science have made the kind of experiments once only accessible to PhDs with fancy labs far more attainable. College undergrads are constructing gene drives. Anyone can buy a kit on the internet to concoct their own bioluminescent beer.

The German government, it seems, is none too pleased with this development. Two weeks ago its consumer protection office issued a statement making clear just how upset it is: Any science enthusiast doing genetic engineering outside of a licensed facility, it wrote, might face a fine of 50,000 or up to three years in prison.

The statement sent a wave of shock through the DIY bio community.

This is the first time Ive ever heard of a government calling out the DIY community specifically, said Todd Kuiken, a senior research scholar with the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at North Carolina State University.

The law behind the German DIY bio crackdown isnt new. The government was simply reminding so-called biohackers of a long-existing law that forbids genetic engineering experiments outside of laboratories supervised and licensed by the state.

But there is concern over how the pledge to enforce those rules may stymy the growth of the DIY science movement, and whether Germanys statement may inspire other European nations to take a similarly firm stance.

I am worried that the mentality could spread to other countries, said Josiah Zayner, who runs The Odin, a US company that sells DIY CRISPR kits.

Europe is generally much stricter in its regulation of genetic engineering and genetically modified products than the United States. In some countries, it is unclear whether DIY genetic engineering is legal at all.

A spokesperson for Germanys consumer protection office, the BVL, told Gizmodo that officials gathered in November to discuss concerns over the appearance of cheap DIY genetic engineering kits for sale on the internet, and decided it should issue a warning. Companies like The Odin and Amino Labs sell kits that make experimenting with DNA not much more difficult that whipping up a batch of brownies with a box of mix. Amino Labs compact, table-top bacteria lab is even sort of reminiscent of an Easybake oven, with its bright colors and playful name, the DNA Playground.

The statement has to be seen in light of the newly formed DIY biology scene and due to the appearance of low-priced DIY biology kits in online shops, the BVL told Gizmodo, via email.

At the moment, the BVL said it has not used the law to bring any criminal chargers against biohackers, though it may do so in the future.

Its difficult, but not impossible, for an individual in Germany to receive explicit government permission to do genetic engineering experiments outside of a lab. In Ireland, a PhD dropout named Cathal Garvey won such approval from the Irish government back in 2012.

Im pretty sure that laws will prohibit me from continuing my research at a later state, said Bruno Lederer, a German biohacker who hopes that loopholes in the law will allow his work to continue for now. I think its a shame that Id have to do illegal things in order to do independent research.

The BVL conceded that the new rules will make it virtually impossible for a lone scientist to meet the legal requirements to do genetic engineering. To begin with, any lab needs a project manager qualified by academic credentials such as a masters degree in science. Labs also require a commissioner for biological safety who is similarly qualified.

This makes genetic engineering experiments rather unattractive for individuals, the BVLs spokesman said.

Community biology labs, which often receive oversight and advisement from traditional scientists, shouldnt have an issue getting licensed. But not every DIY scientist lives near or has the resources to join a community lab. If the DIY bio movement is about making science accessible to those outside the Ivory Tower of academia, the German governments statement represents a serious roadblock.

If you are not living in a big city, access to a community biolab or an informal learning environment like a maker space is difficult, said Orkan Telhan, whose company, Biorealize, is in the process of developing its own DIY bio kits. There is no doubt that the field has to be regulated to mitigate adverse outcomes, but we need alternative ways to engage new audiences with biology.

In the US, biohackers operate in more of a regulatory gray areaoften regulations do not apply to them simply because no one ever conceived that self-taught scientists would one day pursue sophisticated biology experiments in their garages. But as the DIY community here has grown and sought to not just experiment at home, but sell its creations to the public, it, too, has increasingly faced regulatory run ins. In the US, DIY scientists are subject to the same rules as any other scientists. As in Germany, those regulations can be difficult to comply for an individual to comply with.

I dont think its entirely uncalled for to evaluate some of these spaces like community labs to make sure that they are operating in a safe manner, said Kuiken. I think that they are already operating safely, but currently there is no system in the US to determine that.

Germanys statement does offer one silver lining: it offers the rare clear guidance for what rules biohackers must comply with in order to go about their work legally.

Germany stating their position is a step forward in clarification, said Julie Legault of Amino Labs. Hopefully other countries will clarify their own rules as well.

The only question now is whether those rules will prevent biohackers from continuing with their work at all.

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Piece of tragic shuttle history gets a second chance at space travel – WQAD.com

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HOUSTON A soccer ball that was inside the Space Shuttle Challenger when it exploded in 1986 is now in space.

During the recovery of the Challenger, a few things survived. One of the items was a soccer ball carried by one of the astronauts and signed by the players form Clear Lake High School in Houston. After it was recovered, it was donated to the high school and has been on display.

Astronaut Shane Kimbrough, whose daughter now attends that same high school, asked if the school would like to send anything into orbit. The soccer ball received a second chance at space flight. Kimbrough launched to the space station in October and just last week posted a photo of the ball in space.

When the ball returns from space, it will go back to Clear Lake High School for a permanent display.

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Piece of tragic shuttle history gets a second chance at space travel - WQAD.com