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The threat of death does not loom over most people who dip their fists in a bowl of honey-roasted cashews. For those with severe nut allergies, however, such a treat can quickly turn into a trip to the emergency room. Now, preliminary research focusing on modifying the protein structures of peanuts and tree nuts could lead to the creation of hypoallergenic nuts that even the severely allergic can enjoy.Peanuts and tree nuts such as cashews and walnuts cause life-threatening allergic reactions in an estimated 19 million adults and children in the United States. “The only widely accepted practice for preventing an allergic reaction to nuts is strict avoidance—stay away from the food,” notes Christopher Mattison, a molecular biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. But because even the most careful nut avoider is still prone to accidentally ingesting one, Mattison decided to look for an alternate solution: changing the food instead of changing the person.Many nut allergies are triggered when the immune system recognizes specific proteins in the food and releases the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) to latch on to the allergen, thereby causing reactions from mild itching to life-threatening anaphylaxis, a whole body reaction that may include an itchy rash, throat swelling, and low blood pressure. Mattison knew that the problem isn’t the release of IgE per se, but rather the myriad allergic reactions triggered when it binds to the nut proteins. So he decided to modify the shape of cashew proteins so that IgE wouldn’t be able to recognize them.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(*)For this preliminary experiment, Mattison and his team treated proteins from cashew extract with a potent combination of heat and sodium sulfite, a chemical often used in food preservation and known to be safe to eat. The treatment essentially cuts the proteins up into smaller pieces, destroying the IgE molecules’ ability to recognize them. When the researchers tested the altered proteins by mixing them with IgE taken from people allergic to cashews, about 50% fewer of the IgE bound to the altered proteins compared with when they mixed the IgE with unmodified cashew proteins, they report today at the 248th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco, California, and in the 16 July issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.Although similar studies had been conducted previously, Mattison’s is the first to use a compound (sodium sulfite) “generally regarded as safe,” or GRAS, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rather than harsh chemicals people could never hope to eat. Using a GRAS compound in this process is the only way the altered nuts could eventually be manufactured as a food product, Mattison says. Though that goal is still a long way off, his team is already at work on the next step: modifying whole cashews, rather than cashew extract, to be hypoallergenic. Then they’ll have to turn their attention to making sure the modified cashews taste the same as their allergy-causing cousins, Mattison says. After all, no one wants their snack to have a strange aftertaste.Such applications may be a long way off, cautions Robert Wood, a pediatric allergist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Even the smallest amount of nut protein can set off an allergic reaction in certain patients, he notes. In other words, if even 1% of a patient’s IgE binds to cashew protein, that can still be enough to trigger an allergic reaction. Fifty percent, he says, is still way too dangerous. “My patients would love an allergy-free nut but would have no interest in an allergy-reduced nut.”A “less allergenic” nut is “not going to change most of my patients’ lives,” agrees J. Allen Meadows, a practicing allergist in Montgomery and spokesman for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Still, he says he would like to see the research continue, as other still-untested GRAS compounds may potentially be able to eradicate all traces of allergen someday. “This is research that is just one step along a long journey.”
New Delhi, Sept 15 (PTI) In a critique of Vice President Hamid Ansaris recent speech on the need for “affirmative action” for Muslim empowerment, an article in RSS mouthpiece Panchjanya has accused him of speaking like a “communal Muslim leader”. It said instead of projecting Muslims as victims of discrimination, Ansari should “tell them the truth about how Muslim radicalism is preventing them from integrating with the society”. The article attacks Vice Presidents take that Muslims in India face the challenges of identity, security, education and empowerment. “There was much dejection in the much-talked speech by Hamid Ansari at All-India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, as it comes across as one made by a communal Muslim leader. The Vice President is expected not to talk preferentially of one community but to speak of benefits for all. But these elements are missing from his speech,” the article says. The piece goes on to cite radical Muslim outfits like ISIS, Taliban and Boko Haram to say Islam and modernity are “poles apart”. “Islam and modernity are like two poles that can never meet but leaders like Ansari will never tell Muslims that,” it says. It says that the VPs speech “doesnt reflect any sense of self introspection” and added only he can explain “how a religion keen on implementing 1400 year old rules can be described as modern”. On the issue if identity, it said,”Secular India has paid a heavy price to maintain Muslim religious identity… Uniform Civil Code was not implemented… Muslim Personal Law has distorted Indias secular character but no Muslim leader speaks of these facilities which they treat as a right.” It also says the Constitution doesnt provide for religion based quotas.It also sited the constitutional right for minorities to set up and manage their educational institutions and questioned the continuing Haj subsidy. PTI SKC RTadvertisement
New Delhi, May 3 (PTI) Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has accepted Indian Olympic Associations (IOA) invitation to become the countrys goodwill ambassador for the upcoming Rio Olympics. Tendulkar is the third goodwill ambassador roped in by IOA after Bollywood actor Salman Khan and ace shooter Abhinav Bindra. The IOA today confirmed that Tendulkar has accpeted its offer after the national Olympic body had invited the batting legend to come on board on April 29. “Sachin Tendulkar has accepted our request to become goodwill ambassador of Indian contingent at the Olympics. We have received the official communication from him accpeting our request,” IOA Secretary General Rajiv Mehta told PTI. “We are very happy to have an iconic sportsperson like Mr Tendulkar on board as goodwill ambassador. We are thankful to him. We hope his association and the association of other goodwill ambassadors will take Indian sport forward,” he added. The IOAs had approached Bindra, Tendulkar and celebrated music composer AR Rehman after its move to make Salman the goodwill ambassador had drawn flak from many quarters, including wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and former athlete Milkha Singh, who had said the honour should be given to top sportspersons. The IOA Secretary General, however, said they are yet to get a confirmation from Rehman. “Mr. Rehman is yet to communicate to us but we are hopeful that he will also accept our invitation,” Mehta said. Asked about what specific role the goodwill ambassadors would play, Mehta said: “These iconic sportspersons and celebrities will spread the idea of Olympic movement in every nook and corner of the country, every village, block and city of India. “They will help in buolding up a sporting culture in this country. We need a sporting culture if we want to become a sporting country.” PTI PDS SSC AH AHadvertisement
Delhi Police is investigating a suspected case of human trafficking in which unemployed youths were being sent to Germany purportedly to take part in a jujutsu tournament.The complaint in this regard was filed by the German embassy.In the complaint, lodged at Chanakyapuri police station, a German embassy officer alleged that six youths submitted forged documents with their visa applications.He said the six applied for visa purportedly to take part in a jujutsu (a Japanese martial art) tournament at Gelsenkirchen in Germany.The youths, claiming to be students of Sir Marshall Convent School in Punjab, even produced a letter on the school’s letterhead, along with their visa applications, police said.Upon verification by the embassy from the school, the letter was found to be forged.In his complaint, the embassy official mentioned the name of the agent, coordinating with the youths for their proposed visit to Germany, as Deepak Sharma, claiming him to be a “suspected human trafficker to Europe”.Sharma allegedly used sports events to illegally transport people to Europe, the complaint stated.”A case under sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), IPC was registered, said a senior police officer, adding that a hunt was launched for the agent.
Shorn of confidence and recovering from illness and injury, Andy Murray will hope he can avoid becoming part of an historic French Open double act when he faces in-form Russian Andrey Kuznetsov on Tuesday.After making the Roland Garros final for the first time in 2016, the world number one’s love affair with clay has turned sour this year, with recent losses to Borna Coric in Madrid and Fabio Fognini in Rome as he struggled to put a bout of shingles, and an elbow injury, behind him.Memories are still fresh of Sunday’s defeat in Paris of Murray’s rankings counterpart Angelique Kerber – the first opening-round loss at Roland Garros by a women’s world number one since the sport turned professional in 1968.The fact she lost to another Russian, Ekaterina Makarova, may give Kuznetsov a boost when he and the Scot contest the second match on the main Phillipe Chatrier showcourt.Murray will be bolstered by the presence in his box of Ivan Lendl, his coach in grand slams since 2012 and credited with adding an extra edge of aggression to the Scot’s game.Murray has also won both his matches against Kuznetsov – but the Russian will certainly be no pushover.Ranked 73, Kuznetsov reached the semi final of last week’s Geneva open, beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas – himself a winner over Murray in April in Monte Carlo – before going down in two close sets to eventual winner Stan Wawrinka.
London, Oct 6 (AFP) Jose Mourinho’s position as Manchester United manager is not under immediate threat, senior figures at the club have said, denying a report he was set to be sacked next week.United are struggling in 10th place and last week’s 3-1 loss to West Ham made it the club’s worst start to a league campaign in 29 years.The Daily Mirror reported late Friday that Mourinho would be dismissed regardless of the result of United’s match at home to Newcastle on Saturday.But senior figures at United told Press Association Sport that Mourinho would retain his job for the immediate future.The agency reported that United look set to give Mourinho the upcoming international break to turn things around at Old Trafford.Tuesday’s goalless Champions League draw against Valencia in the Champions League also meant the former Chelsea boss had gone four home matches without a win for the first time in his managerial career.In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Mourinho accepted that the performance was not good enough.”We are better than this and because we are better than this, our situation is going to improve. I have no doubts about that,” he said.Eyebrows were raised when the press conference, called for the unusually early time of 8:00 am (0700 GMT), lasted a mere eight minutes and 29 seconds.Mourinho claimed United had overachieved in finishing second last season, 19 points behind champions Manchester City, and said he always expected this campaign to be more difficult.”I think opponents with much more potential than us finished behind us,” he said.advertisement”That is the reason why it was a phenomenal season.”United became a byword for managerial stability during Alex Ferguson’s trophy-laden 26-and-a-half years in charge.But were Mourinho to be dismissed, it would mean United had got through three full-time managers, plus club great Ryan Giggs’s spell as caretaker, in the five years since the legendary Scottish boss retired in 2013 — a period that has coincided with the club failing to win either the Premier League or Europe’s Champions League.- ‘Absolute disgrace’ -=======================Former United and England full-back Gary Neville, one of Ferguson’s most dependable players, said such an attrition rate went against the “principles and values” of the club.Asked if United would be right to sack Mourinho, Sky Sports pundit Neville replied: “No. To be honest I’m furious.”I’m furious going back three, four years ago when David Moyes was sacked, when it broke a day before to journalists.”I think of Louis van Gaal being sacked the evening of a cup final and finding out from other people.”In what appeared to be an attack on Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, Neville added: “At the end of the day this is now going on five or six years and I have to say that any manager — Jose Mourinho is one of the best managers in the world — and I think in this moment in time any manager would struggle in that football club, the way in which recruitment is handled, the way in which it operates.”Enough is enough for me… I have to say something has to change and it isn’t the manager, it’s above that.”(AFP) APAAPA
Jammu, Dec 21 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Friday expressed displeasure over the “negative portrayal” of Kashmir in national media, adding none of the achievements of the Valley were being highlighted by the fourth estate. Drawing a parallel between his home state of Uttar Pradesh and the Valley, the Governor said no one knows about five to ten bodies lying in mortuaries daily in (UP), buta single incident of death in Kashmir becomes national headline.”In Delhi, Kashmir is being demonised (by the media). Everything on Kashmir is shown in bad light. If there is one death taking place in Kashmir, it is national headline,” he said at a function here.”The place, from where I come from, there are five to ten bodies lying in mortuaries daily. This is not known to the people of that city. But a single death in Kashmir becomes a national headline. Kashmir is being deliberately demonised, none of the achievements are highlighted,” he said.Malik rapped the media for “ignoring” the positive stories from the Valley.”Have you read any news about 1,000 doctors recruited in 40 days or about the peaceful polls with regard to the nine-phased panchayat polls and the municipal polls? The polling percentage was more than that of Punjab in the recent polls. There was no causality. None of the newspapers wrote about this positive aspect,” he said.The Governor also lauded the youth for their achievements, especially in the field of sports.”The football team has become number two in the league matches. There is no mention of that too (by media). None has mentioned that the day the Kashmir team had its match with the Mohun Bagan team, 27,000 youth had come to watch the match. It has not happened in 15 years. They were cheering even for the Mohun Bagan,” he said. advertisementExpressing his dismay at the reportage on Kashmir, Malik said, “If you (media) get one small incident, it is blown out of proportion. I am disheartened by New Delhi (media)”.The Governor said he knew nothing about the state and had first visited Jammu and Kashmir as a tourist many years ago.”When I was sent here, I tried to understand the state through the opinions of the officials and advisors and later through the youth of J&K. I believe the future of the state lies in the hands of its youth,” he added.PTI AB SRY
Jack de Belin and the Rugby League Players Association are weighing up whether to challenge the NRL’s Federal Court win over the star St George Illawarra back-rower.Justice Melissa Perry on Friday dismissed De Belin’s case against the ARL Commission and NRL after he challenged the “no fault” stand down rules. Share on Messenger Topics Share on WhatsApp Share on Facebook … we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and supporting The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism than ever before. And unlike many new organisations, we have chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. But we need your ongoing support to keep working as we do.The Guardian will engage with the most critical issues of our time – from the escalating climate catastrophe to widespread inequality to the influence of big tech on our lives. At a time when factual information is a necessity, we believe that each of us, around the world, deserves access to accurate reporting with integrity at its heart.Our editorial independence means we set our own agenda and voice our own opinions. Guardian journalism is free from commercial and political bias and not influenced by billionaire owners or shareholders. This means we can give a voice to those less heard, explore where others turn away, and rigorously challenge those in power.We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism, to maintain our openness and to protect our precious independence. Every reader contribution, big or small, is so valuable. Support The Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you. Australia sport Share on Twitter NRL Rugby league Read more
Share on Pinterest Support The Guardian Share via Email While it was a landmark victory for the NRL and their quest to mend the game’s reputation, further court challenges loom as De Belin ponders how to salvage his career after he was stood down pending a criminal case.The Dragons said in a statement that De Belin, who has denied a charge of sexual assault stemming from an incident in December, was considering appealing the decision.RLPA chief executive Ian Prendergast said the union will consider challenging the NRL under the collective bargaining agreement.During his case, De Belin challenged the fact that the “no-fault” provisions were not agreed to during the union’s CBA negotiations with the NRL.The RLPA described Justice Perry’s judgment as “disappointing” and Prendergast said the no-fault rules defy a person’s basic right to a presumption of innocence. “We’re disappointed in the court’s decision,” Prendergast said. “Not only on behalf of Jack, but all our members, in fact all professional athletes in this country. “We’ve maintained our opposition to the policy throughout because it goes outside of what we’ve agreed to under the collective bargaining agreement and the penalties it effectively imposes. “We’ll now go away and consider the collective issues on behalf of our members including issuing a dispute under the CBA.” De Belin’s NRL career could be over says coach McGregor Since you’re here… Share on LinkedIn news Reuse this content
zoom Austal Limited has a long association with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), which extends past the Cape Class Patrol Boats that Austal is currently manufacturing for the ACBPS.The predecessor to Cape Class, the Bay Class Patrol Boats, are also Austal-built aluminium ships and have been operated by the ACBPS for 15 years.At a keel laying ceremony for the sixth Cape Class Patrol Boat, Cape Leveque, on March 31, ACBPS Border Force Capability Division National Director Nigel Perry highlighted the strong performance of the Bay Class Patrol Boats.“They have been operated at twice the tempo originally intended and in conditions well beyond those initially conceived,” he said. “They continue to provide very effective and reliable service today”.At the November 2013 CHOGM meeting in Sri Lanka the Prime Minister announced the gifting of two Customs and Border Protection Bay Class Patrol Boats to Sri Lanka.On Sunday 30 March, Mr Perry escorted the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Colombage over the first of those vessels to be handed over today, ACV Corio Bay.In his Cape Leveque keel laying address Mr Perry indicated that on handover, the vessel had completed 3,759 sea days, recording 351 days in one year alone, and steamed over 284,000 nautical miles.Similarly, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Scott Morrison announced in Kuala Lumpur in early February 2014 that two Bay Class patrol boats would be gifted to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.Last month, Border Protection officials escorted the Director General of MMEA I (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency) on a tour of ACV Storm Bay.Mr Perry commented in his address that the Director General’s First Admiral was “so struck with the condition of the ship that he stated it would set new standards for the MMEA”.Austal CEO Andrew Bellamy said the gifting of these ships in such good condition was particularly pleasing for Austal as well.“It is very good to see Austal ships being transferred in this manner and continuing to support agencies and navies across the region. I congratulate Customs on developing this initiative,” he said.Austal, April 4, 2014
zoom Six new bulk carriers, being built at the Namura and Onomichi shipyards in Japan, are to be fitted with 12 Wärtsilä Aquarius UV ballast water management systems (BWMS), which will enable the vessels to comply with anticipated International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. Japan has recently ratified the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention, and these orders are the first for Aquarius UV systems for newbuild vessels from a Japanese shipyard. The Namura yard will install two BWMS units with a capacity of up to 500 m3 of ballast water per hour to each of the two 34,000 DWT carriers. The Onomichi yard is building four 60,000 DWT carriers, each of which will be fitted with two Aquarius UV systems having a capacity of up to 1000 m3 per hour. Deliveries from Wärtsilä will commence at the end of 2014 and will be completed by mid 2016.The IMO ratification requires support from 35% of the world’s merchant shipping tonnage. Japan and Turkey recently ratified the ballast water convention, meaning that contracting countries now represent 32.54%, just 2.5% short of the necessary tonnage. Ratification is, therefore, expected within the near future.When ratified, the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention will require the owners of up to 40,000 vessels worldwide to install a BWMS. However, the US Coast Guard (USCG) has already implemented legislation requiring compliance with the regulations covering discharges from ships when sailing in US coastal waters. The intention of the legislation is to address the issue of invasive aquatic species being carried in the ballast water of ships and then discharged to the sea where they could possibly harm local species.The Wärtsilä Aquarius UV BWMS is a modular system utilising a two stage approach involving filtration and medium pressure UV disinfection technology. The system meets the IMO D2 discharge standard, and has been awarded classification society type approval.
OTTAWA — The national statistics office says fewer children are living in poverty and it is connecting the drop to the Liberal government’s signature child benefit.The Liberals introduced the income-tested Canada Child Benefit midway through 2016, replacing a previous system of tax credits and the Conservatives’ universal child care benefit.New Statistics Canada figures show 278,000 fewer children living below the poverty line in 2017 — the first full year of the benefit — compared to 2015 when the Liberals took office.Statistics Canada says an increase in the value of child benefits, coupled with gains in market income, put more money into the pockets of families in 2017.Liberal MPs are pointing to the numbers today as a sign that the benefit has done its job as a key tool to reduce child poverty rates.The statistics office says overall, 9.5 per cent of the population lived below the poverty line in 2017, down from 10.6 per cent in 2016.The Canadian Press
By Jorge BarreraAPTN National NewsOTTAWA–First Nations leaders will be listening closely to the words Prime Minister Stephen Harper chooses in his speech at the Crown-First Nations gathering Tuesday after he left chiefs feeling underwhelmed by his response to their presentations during a special, two-and-a-half hour meeting with a delegation Monday.Harper told chiefs that they should consider contacting their MPs and that he can’t just focus on Aboriginal issues because he has to run the country, according to three chiefs who were present at the meeting.His comments left chiefs concerned the prime minister was not taking their issues seriously.“To hear the prime minister make reference to the number of issues he is dealing with raises questions in my mind and those questions will need to be answered in his words tomorrow to First Nations,” said Serpent River Chief Isadore Day. “Tomorrow will be a very good indication of where the prime minister is in his resolve, or lack thereof, to deal with First Nations issues.”Grand Chief Ghislain Picard, who heads the Assembly of First Nations Quebec wing, said it was surprising to hear Harper tell chiefs that they should consider contacting their local MPs.“It is kind of funny coming from him that these would be the channels when it’s exactly what we’ve done for the past six years to build some pressure on this government,” said Picard. “Are we going to be back on square one? It’s going to be a waste of time, this week in Ottawa.”The meeting with Harper, which according to chiefs was agreed to at the 11th hour, did alleviate some of the anger and disappointment over the prime minister’s plan to leave Tuesday’s “historic” gathering early.When Harper announced the event in December, he said he hoped it would be “historic.”The Prime Minister’s Office agreed to a meeting with limited number of delegates from each region. The parties met in a boardroom in the Langevin building, across from Parliament Hill, which houses Harper’s main office. The meeting ran from about 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. local time.Grand Chief Stewart Phillip said there were about 45 people in the room, including chiefs, elders, Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan and his Parliamentary Secretary Greg Rickford.Harper opened the meeting saying he was there to listen.“I was extremely proud of some of the profoundly powerful statements made by some of the elders, grand chiefs and regional chiefs that were in the room,” said Phillip. “In the end we waited for the response from the prime minister, which was very, very brief, almost disappointingly brief.”Phillip said the prime minister basically told chiefs that he couldn’t just focus on their issues because he had to run the country.“He did make a point of saying basically that, as the prime minister of Canada, he had many, many other issues. He talked about the great responsibility and many interests on this ‘great ship of state’ as he described the country,” said Phillip. “Quite astonishingly…at the very end he was recommending we go home and talk to our MPs.”Phillip said most of the delegates were consistent in their call for a series of first ministers meeting, or some kind of similar, high-level process, to deal with issues of dire poverty, treaty and land rights once and for all.Now, chiefs will wait to hear what the prime minister says in his speech Tuesday and what gets accomplished during sessions with cabinet ministers to gauge what to do next. They’ll either continue negotiating or take their issues to the streets.“After all of that takes place, there is going to be reflection from the delegates,” said Phillip. “There is an incredibly high level of frustration and anger and resentment that has been expressed by our elders, our traditional leaders, grand chiefs, and chiefs.”jbarrera@aptn.ca
VANCOUVER – Lululemon Athletica Inc. outperformed analyst expectations in its most recent quarter after a strong holiday season.The Vancouver-based company says its net revenue increased 18 per cent to $928.8 million for its fourth quarter ended January 28, while its adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.33 for the quarter compared to $1 in the same quarter the previous year.Analysts expected the company’s revenue to be $912.44 million and earnings per share to be $1.27, according to Thomson Reuters.In early January the company raised its sales and earnings guidance for the quarter after the holiday season with then-CEO Laurent Potdevin saying the athleisure retailer was “thrilled” with its performance.The company said at the time that it expected its net revenue to fall between $905 million and $915 million.Potdevin resigned in early February after a several instances in which he fell short of the retailer’s standards of conduct, including a relationship between him and a former designer at the company.The company did not provide an update on its search for a new chief executive in a statement about its earnings.