Ellen Signs Budget
Credible reports reaching the Daily Observer late last night say President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has signed the National Budget Law for fiscal year 2014/15, but vetoed a line item which calls for signature bonus in the amount of US$25 million on account of oil blocks.The National Legislature passed the budget recently, increasing its re-adjusted revenue envelop from over US$473 million to US$660 million, contradicting the actual numbers highlighting declining revenue and huge government deficit.They had also increased their salaries and benefits amidst the economic challenges in the face of the Ebola crisis.Our Business & Economy Correspondent George D. Kennedy reported earlier that the Liberian economy has receded by over 6 percent projected with real gross domestic product (GDP) growth dipping further downward to 0.4 percent due to the ongoing Ebola crisis.Kennedy further stated that with that downward trend of the economy, investment and export as well as government spending as functions of the economy have all been hit due to the crisis; “consequently, the realization of the segment added to the Budget by the lawmakers was not feasible.”The present Ebola crisis has made investments to dwindle as contractors and companies declared force majeure and left the country. It, however, has not stopped the government from paying workers and ensuring that public institutions function – which ultimately creates extra spending pressure on the government.A revenue expert had told this newspaper Tuesday how the government would have collapsed had the World Bank and other multilateral institutions and bilateral governments not given direct budgetary support to pay health workers’ salaries and settle other costs. “The best we can do is to operate on core revenue only,” said this expert who preferred anonymity.Apart from the initial draft budget envelop of US$473.2 million, lawmakers included US$7.047 million as additional revenue from the budget hearing. In addition, they also made the following adjustments US$24 million core grant, US$50.3 million contingent (grant) revenue and US$70.6 million (core) borrowing as well as US$10 million borrowing (contingent) and US$25 million signature bonuses for oil blocks 6, 7, 16 and 17, respectively. By increasing the revenue envelop of the budget by US$186.9 million and increasing their own allowances and other benefits, many economists were left to wonder where the government will raise additional revenue from to complete the financing of the budget when deficit is already above US$305 million.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
PPP Region 2 LGE campaignDuring a two-day tour of Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) to officially launch the Local Government Election campaign, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo met with hundreds of concerned residents and offered a listening ear to the many concerns they had.Jagdeo being greeted with a hug by a senior resident in an Essequibo village during a walkaboutJagdeo, who arrived in the Cinderella County on Monday, held public meetings and met with residents in several communities, and even visited the Charity Market and met with Pomeroon farmers. Residents were happy to get a one-on-one conversation with the Opposition Leader on the many issues facing them, and many of them reiterated their full support for the party.The PPP General Secretary also held well-attended community meetings along the Coast, where he listened to the many problems facing the people in various sectors, especially the rice industry.Many rice farmers are unable to go back to the lands, due to the low prices for paddy and the many new taxes implemented by the present Administration, especially on fertilisers, drugs and farm equipment.Residents expressed disappointed in the way the present Government is managing the affairs of the country. They also raised concerns about the escalating crime rate in the country, among other things.The Opposition Leader promised to continue the fight for a free and prosperous Guyana. He also warned about the repercussions of Government waiting on oil money and neglecting other sectors.Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addressing Essequibians during his 2-day visit to Region TwoThe People’s Progressive Party first launched its LGE campaign in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) with meetings held at Number 70 Village, Number 56 Village, Hogtown Chesney, and Hampshire on the Corentyne.Jagdeo pointed out that the Party was implementing a 12-point criteria list for choosing persons to represent their constituencies at the upcoming elections. He said one criterion was to ensure widespread consultation to select a representative.The Opposition Leader has since asked all to participate in the process, and has said that by August 18, the names of those selected should be submitted to the Party’s head office.As preparations continue, Jagdeo said, the PPP would be ready for Nomination Day, set for September 2018.The party has also announced plans to balance its list of candidates to contest the LGE on November 12, 2018 by having 50 per cent come from within the Party and 50 per cent from civil society.Jagdeo has said his Party would ask possible candidates who were going to be on the list if they would have the time to serve or volunteer for these positions.“We are going to ask them right up front… because they may not have the time, and the work of the NDC (Neighbourhood Democratic Councils) or the municipality would suffer,” he stated.Jagdeo said the idea of balancing the slate was to ensure that it includes people coming directly from the communities, who have skills and could relate to the community and push to have the communities improved.“These are people who are known in the area; people of good repute; law-abiding citizens who have done community work; religious leaders, young people in the youth movements,” he explained.The PPP General Secretary said one of the major constraints was Councillors having little time to attend meetings; because elected officials do not earn salaries, and so many of them are “busy earning a living elsewhere”.“…they have to give a commitment that they will support and defend the positions we campaign on,” he explained.In each of the 81 areas, communities will do their own selection and screening of all of the candidates at the bottom, and then in consultation with the Party leadership.Candidates, he said, would be expected to possess good interpersonal skills and have a sound grounding in the communities where they reside, especially to prevent the PPP being labelled for something bad.
The Taylor Moto-X Club hosts its annual Mothers’s Day races this Sunday. The Taylor Moto-Cross track has added three new bleachers since last year, and a new gate. Sunday’s action starts at 9am and runs all day. Admission is $5, and free for toddlers. – Advertisement -A concession will also be open.
Drumkeen NotesAnyone wishing to have material included for next week please email drumkeennotes@gmail.com or text 086 4083625 (Deadline Sun @ 6pm)St. Mary’s GAA Bingo continues in the hall at 8.30pm.Lotto Results for 05/02/13 CW, LK, MH, WH. p Lynch, R Carlin, M Mc Clean, JC Moore, M & M Browne. Next Weeks Jackpot €2,750Registration is now due and must be paid by 6 pm on the 26th March to be in with a chance of getting tickets for the Donegal v Tyrone game. Adults €30 and Minors €3 Contact Julia Blake on 086 2611290 for details.Training for Underage Boys and Girls this Friday. Could all coaches try to be available to help out thanks New Players are always welcome . Could all managers please contact P.R.O. Mairead Browne (087 2140060) with times of training etc. for their teams and these will be put up on facebook page and in the papers. Thanks.Drumkeen Youth ClubYouth Club this Fri 15th Feb from 7:30-9:30pm. Adult Leaders Patricia Guthrie, John Mc Laughlin. Orders now being taken for our new Youth Club hoody. (Available to Members/Leaders only) Price €20 or in instalments of €5 per week. Plans are well advanced for our Easter quiz, more info in the coming weeks.Charlie Daly & H-Block Martyrs Sinn Féin Cumann DrumkeenAt our recent AGM the following were elected on to the committee for 2013. Chairperson: Patricia Doherty, Secretary: Mark O’ Donnell, Treasurer: Liam Doherty, PRO: Aidan Guthrie.Lotto Results 06th Feb 01, 08, 15, 16. No jackpot, 2 winners €50 each Jim Diamond, Milford. Peter Mullan, Redcastle. Next weeks jackpot €725Tickets from any committee member €2. Go raibh maith agat.Tyrconnel Martyrs Flute Band. Band practice this Tuesday at earlier time of 6.30pm in the hall due to the Celtic match. As always we are encouraging new members to come along. Learn to play the flute or drums, and have some fun. Age 9 to 90.We are travelling to the West Tyrone commemoration this Sun 17th anyone wishing to travel contact Harry on 087 7741054Parish CommitteeTenders are now invited for the painting of the new wall at St. Patrick’s Church. Contact Johnny Haughey on 086 2107334 for details.Parish HallAnyone wishing to book the hall should contact Charlie Quinn on91/34010 or 087 7728608Fund Raising DanceA dance will take place in aid of “Inis Aoibhinn Cancer Care West” Co. Galway on Fri 01st March 2013 in the Millview Inn Stranorlar. Music by Trevor Loughrey. The tickets are available by phoning the Millview on 086 832 8593 or 087 669 8178 and are priced at a very reasonable €5. Please come along and support this very worthy cause. Spot prizes and buffet on the night.FIBROMYALGIA DONEGAL SUPPORT GROUPHolding monthly meetings for people living with the Chronic Pain Condition Fibromyalgia. We hold monthly meetings – 1st Wed of the month in Letterkenny & 1st Fri of month in Stranorlar.Also morning meetings may be run in Ballybofey on a Friday – if this is of interest to you, please get in contact.New members always welcome – why not come along for a cuppa and a chat.For more information, contact Jude Fibromyalgia Bromley on FacebookOr 0863945008 after 7pm or mikejay1@eircom.netSlimming WorldSlimming World meet every Tuesday in Kees Hotel, Stranorlar at 10am, 12 noon, 5.30pm & 7.30pm. New members always welcome. Contact Catherine on 0863962666 for further information.Birthdays, Anniversaries etc.Is there something happening in the area you think should be highlighted or if anyone would like a birthday or anniversary mentioned in the notes, also any photo’s you would like published please feel free to email them to drumkeennotes@gmail.comDD LOCAL: DRUMKEEN COMMUNITY NEWS was last modified: February 10th, 2013 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:Drumkeen notes
[vemba-video id=”van/sc/2019/05/21/bang_dfe432fe-7342-4380-89a6-c860667bec3e”]The Warriors made history Monday night, becoming just the second team in NBA history to reach five-straight NBA Finals with a 119-117 overtime win against the Portland Trail Blazers.They did so without Kevin Durant, arguably the best basketball player on Earth.They did so with All-Star Klay Thompson struggling to 17 points on 7-of-21 shooting and committing a couple key turnovers. Golden State was …
Doing the math. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon. A French mathematician of global renown and with a wealth of international connections has been tapped to become the new president of the European Research Council (ERC), Europe’s funding agency for frontier research. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, the longtime head of the Institute of Advanced Scientific Studies (IHES) in Bures-sur-Yvette, France, is slated to succeed Austrian sociologist Helga Nowotny, who has presided over the agency since 2010.The European Commission, which makes the final decision, has not yet announced the appointment, and a commission spokesperson declined to comment today. But a source with inside knowledge of the process confirms to ScienceInsider that Bourguignon, 66, is slated to succeed Nowotny after she steps down on 31 December. Bourguignon said farewell to IHES, a private institute founded in 1958 and modeled on the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, on 31 August.Bourguignon is a graduate of the École Polytechnique, a famed elite school near Paris that produces many of the France’s leaders in government, science, and business. (Among the graduates in his class of 1966 are Jean-Martin Folz, the former CEO of Peugeot Citroën; former European Parliament member Alain Lipietz; and former Louis Vuitton CEO Yves Carcelle.) Bourguignon specialized in differential geometry and received his Ph.D. at the University of Paris VII.Sign up for our daily newsletterGet more great content like this delivered right to you!Country *AfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia, Plurinational State ofBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, The Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D’IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and Mcdonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIran, Islamic Republic ofIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldova, Republic ofMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinianPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalQatarReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRWANDASaint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch part)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishWallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweI also wish to receive emails from AAAS/Science and Science advertisers, including information on products, services and special offers which may include but are not limited to news, careers information & upcoming events.Required fields are included by an asterisk(*)During his 19-year tenure at the helm of IHES, he secured new funds, including from industry, and attracted top talent from around the world. He also helped the institute, traditionally focused on math, branch out into fields like theoretical biology, according to a recent profile story in Le Monde.EuroScience, a Strasbourg, France-based organization of European scientists, welcomed the impending appointment in a statement issued today. “Professor Bourguignon has been crucial to maintaining and strengthening the atmosphere at the IHES for original, creative research at the very highest levels, and to attract the best minds for shorter and longer stays at the IHES,” the statement said.”At the same time he has built a worldwide community of supporters, not least in Asia, for the IHES which guarantees long-term financial stability of this private Institute.” Bourguignon was a member of the group that got EuroScience started in the 1990s and later served on its board. He was also president of France’s mathematical society from 1990 to 1992 and of the European Mathematical Society from 1995 to 1998.In the first 7 years of its existence, the ERC has become popular among European scientists because, in contrast to other E.U. funding mechanisms, it uses excellence as the only criterion, while its application process is relatively straightforward. But the fact that a disproportionate number of its grants arrive in the union’s richer countries has occasionally sowed discontent in eastern and southern member states.Nowotny—who declined to comment on the appointment—says the key challenge for her successor will be to maintain ERC’s reputation for excellence in the science it funds and its review process, even as its budget is set to increase from €7.1 billion between 2007 and 2013 to around €13 billion in the next 7-year period. (The ERC’s Executive Agency in Brussels will not grow at the same clip, Nowotny says, so the agency’s workload is likely to increase.)Another challenge will be to attract more grantees from outside the European Union, she adds. Nowotny says the groundwork for that has been laid by ERC Secretary General Donald Dingwell, who over the past 2 years has traveled around the world to spread the word about ERC’s activities.As it happens, Bourguignon is a frenetic traveler as well. In the story in Le Monde, he said he has seen Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport “close to a thousand times” during his tenure at IHES, and colleagues have gotten used to receiving e-mails from him from unusual places and at unusual times. Indeed, physicist Nikita Nekrasov, of Stony Brook University in New York, told the paper, “Jean-Pierre is a quantum phenomenon: Lots of energy and momentum, and completely delocalized!”*Correction, 28 October, 5:38 p.m.: This story has been changed to correct the date that Bourguignon left IHES and the new research areas he introduced at the institute. Wikimedia Commons 
SHARE SHARE EMAIL Carlo Ancelotti among the favourites to become the next coach football sport SHARE Stunned Italy fail to reach World Cup Published on RELATED November 16, 2017 Gian Piero Ventura’s reign as Italy coach ended after a World Cup qualifying fiasco during which the four-time champions failed to reach next year’s finals in Russia.The 69 year-old’s fate was sealed after a crisis meeting of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in Rome, with former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti among the favourites to take over and rebuild the Azzurri.Ventura had refused to resign despite a 1-0 aggregate play-off defeat to Sweden on Monday that saw Italy miss the World Cup for the first time since 1958.“As of today, Gian Piero Ventura is no longer the coach of the national team,” the FIGC said in a statement.According to reports, Ventura will be paid his salary until the end of his contract in June 2018, which amounts to approximately 8,00,000 euros (USD 943,000).But FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio will stay on despite mounting pressure on him to also resign after a defeat which has left a nation traumatised. “The federation president (Tavecchio) informed participants at the (crisis) meeting…of the impossibility for him to resign,” a FIGC statement read, awaiting “a series of proposals” on how to fix Italian football.Tavecchio later told journalists that a new coach would be named at a special meeting of the FIGC federal council which would take place next Monday.“We are considering big names for the role of coach,” the 74 year-old promised.Ancelotti is seen as the frontrunner, as the 58 year-old is free since being sacked by Bayern Munich at the end of September.Italian Ancelotti has won three Champions League crowns, league titles in Italy, England, Germany and France and would provide the high profile required after the Ventura fiasco.A return by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini are also being considered.RebuildingBut opposition to Tavecchio remains despite promises to rebuild Italian football from grassroots level upwards with Damiano Tommasi, the head of the Italian Players’ Union, storming out of the FIGC meeting after Tavecchio refused to quit.“There doesn’t appear to be the mood for change,” the former Roma midfielder told journalists. “Tavecchio has decided not to resign and continue with his office. The others haven’t taken a position and said they’d decide in the future. We need credible elections, with new people; we won’t solve the problems of Italian football by sacking the coach.If not, we’ll keep stirring the same soup which has proved indigestible to so many.”Ventura, meanwhile, had defended his leadership as “one of the best records in 40 years” despite failing to lead the 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 winners to their 19th World Cup. “I lost only two games in two years,” he had told Italian television.In fact, since the former Torino coach took over in July 2016, Italy have lost three matches—against France in Bari (3–1), Spain in Madrid (3–0) and Sweden in the World Cup first-leg play-off in Solna (1-0)—winning nine and drawing four.Ventura was given the Italy job in the wake of Euro 2016 after five excellent years at Torino, whom he took from Serie B in 2011 to the Europa League round of 16 in 2015.But having never managed one of Serie A’s big hitters during a 41 year career, he was an uninspiring replacement for Conte, a three-time Serie A winner who dragged two-time champions Italy to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016. × COMMENT COMMENTS
CHICAGO (COPA AMERICA 2016) — The United States vaulted into Quarterfinal contention by beating Costa Rica 4-0 on Tuesday at Soldier Field in Chicago behind a goal and two assists in the first half from Clint Dempsey. The US recorded their first Copa América win since upsetting Argentina on July 14, 1995, breaking a seven-game winless streak in the tournament, including six straight losses.Dempsey converted an early penalty kick for his 50th career international goal, then set up Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood for clinical finishes in a six-minute span late in the first half.Los Ticos came out quickly and created the game’s first scoring chance in just the fifth minute when amis-hit DeAndre Yedlin clearance fell to Joel Campbell, who whipped a half-volley past the right post.Yedlin then helped create the opening goal by beating a defender and floating in a cross, and when defender Cristian Gamboa pushed winger Bobby Wood in the back, referee Roddy Zambrano whistled for a penalty kick. Dempsey coolly placed his shot into the lower right corner.Later in the first half, Dempsey set up both Gyasi Zardes and Jermaine Jones for shots they fired high before the second goal arrived in the 37th minute. Jones started the play with pressure and a sliding pass to Dempsey near midfield, then finished it with a well-placed low shot from the top of the penalty area.The US made it 3-0 five minutes later when Dempsey fed Wood, now playing centrally, at the top of the penalty area, and the Hawaiian-born striker turned his man before firing a shot inside the near post.Costa Rica created two good second half chances, but Celso Borges flicked his shot over the net in the 55th minute, and Bryan Ruiz headed a short corner kick against the left post in the 67th minute.U.S. substitute Graham Zusi wrapped things up in the 87th minute with a steal and a low, left-footed finish, while goalkeeper Brad Guzan made two saves to record the shutout.With three points, the U.S. will close group play on Saturday against Paraguay in Philadelphia.TweetPinShare0 Shares
Mercedes-Benz India, one of the country’s largest luxury automobile brands, announced the roll-out of one of the bespoke programme for its discerning customers – Mercedes-Benz Circle Elite. With this initiative, Mercedes-Benz customers can access an exclusive world of benefits and privileges by simply dialing a hotline number.The Mercedes-Benz Circle Elite programme has tie-ups with leading lifestyle and luxury brands in the spheres of hospitality, entertainment, travel, sports, healthcare and more. All 2018 Mercedes-Benz customers get automatically enrolled in the programme at no additional cost and can benefit from their association with Mercedes-Benz, matching their lifestyles and aspirations.Details of the programme Dining ServiceDining offers especially curated for customers to indulge in gastronomic experiences and avail exclusive offers at more than 100 premium restaurants across the country. Complimentary cake & bouquet at the table, courtesy Mercedes-Benz at select restaurants.StaycationCustomers can unwind in at various properties nationwide – over 45 exotic properties to choose from for weekend getaways.GolfThe customer can spend a day on the green ground with their family and enjoy complimentary Golf lessons. A tie-up with top golf course across more than 10 cities.Global Travel AssistanceAssistance like inoculation and visa requirement information, interpreter referral, lost document advice & assistance, legal referral, emergency translation assistance, emergency document delivery, emergency message transmission, an arrangement of transportation and accommodation for accompanying family members.Medical AssistanceMedical facilities such as telephone medical advice, medical service provider referral, arrangement of hospital admission, guarantee of medical expenses incurred during hospitalization & monitoring of medical condition during hospitalization, arrangement of emergency medical evacuation, arrangement of emergency medical repatriation, arrangement of repatriation of mortal remains, arrangement of compassionate visit, arrangement of return of minor children and arrangement of accommodation will be provided to the customers during their travel abroad.advertisementBespoke RequestThe bespoke request includes an array of services ranging from wine and dining, arts and culture, shopping services, business services, golfing services, travel services, event planning, pet care assistance and massage and aromatherapy services.Retail, Luxury and Lifestyle benefits Periodical tie-ups with exorbitant brands across retail, luxury and lifestyle segment for special offers exclusively for Mercedes-Benz customers.Customer Service initiatives are the most influential differentiators in the Indian luxury car segment and Mercedes-Benz in India offers its customers a range of services for a hassle-free ownership experience.