Pele's goal count a topic of debate - CTV News

Nobody disputes Pele's greatness and his penchant for scoring. The exact number of goals in his career will forever be a topic for debate.

Pele often said one of the reasons he should be considered the greatest player of all time was because of his feat of scoring more than 1,000 goals. But many dispute his count because Pele included goals scored in friendlies or matches against semi-professional or even amateur teams.

Many of his goals came at a time when it wasn't as easy to register match statistics, and not all of them were caught on tape. There is also a discrepancy in the total number of matches he played.

According to Pele, he was the all-time leading scorer in the history of the sport with 1,283 goals in 1,366 matches. That would be an extraordinary 0.93 goals per game.

OFFICIAL MATCHES

If only goals in official matches are tallied, Pele's mark was considerably lower no matter the source, standing at fewer than 800 goals. That would leave him behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Romario and Josef Bican, who played before Pele's time.

Pele scored a total of 95 goals with Brazil's national team, but 18 of those goals came against clubs or combined squads in games which usually are not included in official statistics.

Another 34 goals were scored in friendlies against other national teams.

CONTROVERSIAL GAMES

Pele played in nearly 550 unofficial matches, in part because his Brazilian club Santos made a fortune by playing exhibition matches and touring with the soccer great around the world.

Some of the lists of Pele's goals include friendlies and exhibition games against low-level opponents. He scored against under-23 national teams, combined squads, regional teams and even in some military events while he served in the Brazilian army.

Among his opponents were Saudi Arabia's under-23 national team, Uruguay's armed forces club and Rio de Janeiro's athletes' union. In total, it's believed that more than 500 of Pele's goals came in unofficial matches.

Argentina great Diego Maradona was among those taking shots at Pele for his controversial goal count.

"Who did you score them against?" Maradona asked in an interview with Pele in a television program years ago. "Your nephews in the backyard?"

RECORD BOOK

Guinness World Records credits Pele with 1,279 goals in 1,363 matches. It says he added more goals in "special appearances" after ending his career, but doesn't specify them.

Pele played a few celebratory matches after officially retiring in 1977. In his farewell match that year, he played one half with Santos and another with Cosmos, his last club.

FIFA

The governing body of soccer gives Pele 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches, two goals more than Guinness in the same number of matches. The reason for the discrepancy is not clear, as neither entity provides a full list of Pele's goals and matches.

FIFA adds that Pele scored more than 100 goals in a season twice, in 1959 (127 goals) and in 1961 (110 goals).

SANTOS

Santos also says Pele scored 1,281 goals, but in 1,365 matches. It says 1,091 of those goals were scored while he played for the Brazilian club. Santos says he also broke the 100-goal mark in 1965, with 106 goals.

STATISTICS FOUNDATION

Even the statistics site RSSSF, arguably the most accurate source for soccer stats, credits Pele with different goal totals.

RSSSF lists Pele with 1,284 goals from 1,375 matches, limiting his total in official matches to 769 goals.

The site says Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list of goal-scorers in official matches, followed by Argentina star Lionel Messi.

OTHER TOP SCORERS

When considering goals in unofficial matches, Pele is not the only player to have scored more than 1,000 times.

Bican, who played for both Austria and the Czech Republic, tops some of the lists with more than 1,400 goals, followed by Brazilian striker Arthur Friedenreich.

Guinness mentions Friedenreich, who played in the early 1900s, saying he "scored an undocumented 1,329 goals" in his 26-year career.

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Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha hits 'nail on the head' on 'nepo baby' conversation - Yahoo News Canada

Coco Rocha posted four videos sharing her "unpopular opinions" on the "nepo baby" conversation. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre)

Coco Rocha is getting real about nepotism.

The 34-year-old Canadian supermodel shared a four-part video on social media sharing her "unpopular opinions" about "nepo babies," a topic that's seen recent internet discourse and celebrity umbrage following a Vulture feature calling out stars like Lily Rose-Depp, Zoey Deutch and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Titled "The Year of the Nepo Baby," the feature spotlights the children of parents in the entertainment industry who have pursued their own careers but with an inherent advantage. Since surfacing, stars like Jamie Lee Curtis and Kate Moss have shown their distaste for the conversation.

Rocha began in her first video by saying she's "bitten" her tongue on the "nepo baby" topic for awhile despite being asked "a few times" to share her opinion. She also prefaced her clip by sharing that she's reached major achievements in her successful modelling career, but was raised by a single mother who worked as a flight attendant.

"Let's be real, privilege is a ladder. It's a ladder that's a thousand steps high. Some are born higher on the ladder than others," she said. "That is a fact."

The Toronto-born model continued to explain that all models who have seen some success have "at least a few steps up on that ladder" since they were born photogenic.

"Some start higher on the ladder because they were born in wealthier countries. That is a privilege. Some, like myself, were boosted higher onto the ladder because we worked with some great photographers or great designers that helped us get there," she continued. "They were given a change to make a mark which they had not yet earned.

"Because of the racist legacy of this industry, white models start off higher on the ladder than models of colour. More opportunities are given to them, whether that's fair or not. And yes, some 'nepo babies' started off higher on the ladder because their parents were famous. Everyone has an advantage over someone else in this world."

Rocha added that she was confused why so many models would complain about others who have seen success thanks to nepotism since many are "hundreds of steps up that ladder" of privilege.

"How about we recognize our own position, reach down and pull someone up?" she ended in her first video.

Rocha continued her thoughts in her second video, asking why people are fixated on nepotism in the modelling and entertainment industries rather than nepotism in business, finance, politics and other fields.

"That monopolization of power is world-changing. But according to what we read these days, the peak of our problem is who takes the pretty pictures or who's in the next blockbuster movie. Let's see this for the distraction that it is," she said. "This has happened so many times before: The modelling, entertainment and fashion industry is usually as a scape goat to what is really going on in the world."

Rocha said that in 2018, there was a "temporary focus" on sexual harassment in the fashion and entertainment industry, which is still prevalent, but distracts from the "bigger picture" when there's an emphasis on a single group of people in a small industry.

She added that every industry sees harassment worldwide, and that the media spotlighting it as an issue that's "'unique'" to the fashion industry is "clickbait."

"I guess it's just not glamorous for them to talk about the same issues in other industries," she continued. "I'm not saying that these problems shouldn't be addressed. I'm just saying, when someone is saying, 'Focus on this one thing right here,' often, they are distracting you from a much bigger issue that is springing up all around you."

Still, Rocha added in her third video that some "nepo babies" actually "deserve" where they're at in their careers.

"Some of them, surprise, surprise, are actually great at what they do — maybe better than you or I might ever be," Rocha said. "Yes, they were born into privilege. Maybe their parents were famous or wealthy, but they took that chance circumstance and made the most of it."

Rocha then gave an example of 33-year-old model Anna Cleveland, the daughter of 1970s model Pat Cleveland, saying she can "promise" Anna can "out-model" other people in the industry.

Rocha also continued to say she's known sister models Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid for a decade, and that they are the same "sweet, kind-hearted" and "absolute professionals" they were when they started. After sharing an anecdote from a Vivienne Westwood show, Rocha said she's put up the Hadids's work ethic against any model in the last decade.

"Cindy Crawford once told me that she thinks modelling is 10 per cent a lucky break and 90 per cent what you do with it," Rocha added. "Every successful model had to apply that formula."

In her final video, Rocha replied to a TikTok commenter who said "unfortunately, you see some 'nepo babies' getting praised for the bare minimum."

Rocha responded by saying, "All models have been born with some advantages, some just more than others. If any of them wanted to make it, they would have had to put in some effort."

However, she added that "not all 'nepo babies' succeed" in their careers, adding that "time will always tell" and that she'll "never write off anyone" based off of their background until they have the chance to prove themselves.

Ending her video, Rocha explained that her own three children, Ioni, Iley and Iver, will grow up in her shadows of success as they find their own path.

"As a mom, I'm going to give them every advantage I can, as any good parent would. After that, I hope that they can prove, on their own, their worth in this world," Rocha shared. "I hope people will give them a fair chance to do that, not based on who their mom was, but who they are now."

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

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'Who Is the MVP' Topic Desperately Needs an Intervention - The Big Lead

Patrick Mahomes is going to win his second NFL MVP award when the time mercifully comes to hand out the honor. Few people dispute this! Well, few dispute it now that most of the smoke has cleared and Jalen Hurts has been sidelined with injury. And when this happens, we will finally know peace after months and months of trying to project who will win it without the requisite information and half the sample size. Perhaps that will be an opportunity to look back and realize the real MVPs were the friends made along the way. Or perhaps we'll look back and realize once again what a tremendous waste of time this topic is year after year after year.

My money is on the latter.

Look, there are more than a half-dozen 24-hour sports networks and more podcasts than there are people. The content machine must be constantly fed and has the jaws of Joey Chestnut. And maybe there are a bunch of people out there who do care. But I really wonder who the actual hell is interested in Who Is the NFL MVP roundtable discussions beginning in, like, Week 6.

Sports debate television is supposed to be fun and light and requires some sort of suspension of reality. There's nothing wrong with harboring and sharing strong opinions about who or who isn't the MVP a third of the way through the year but even the most passionate consumers must know, deep down, that this whole process is pretty ephemeral as the state of play is constantly changing.

The true and correct answer every time this comes up is "we'll see when all the games are played." Yet no talking head worth their salary is ever going to say that because it would break down this arbitrary fifth wall to sensible reality. Instead we are treated to anger and all sorts of passion on the topic. Which, again, is fine. But I would posit that the whole MVP check-in routine is wildly inorganic. It's the product of a writers' room that's phoning it in, not reflective of the public. Because no one is walking around in their everyday lives starting conversations about which quarterback deserves this future bauble.

As with all things in content, the quest to give the people what they want turns cyclical. Eventually those running these types of shows believe that the people want whatever they are giving them. Because that's the easiest way to go through the day.

More alarming is that some of the people who engage in this type of fare don't even seem to enjoy it. Take Nick Wright, who I am not picking on because his hair is magnificent and he's vastly more interesting and authentic than the replacement pundit. He is an unabashed Kansas City Chiefs fan and yet he's not happy with Mahomes winning the award because other people are now going to suggest Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson deserves to be in the conversation.

As predicted… the media simply cannot help itself, it must create a foil for the clear & obvious MVP.

It’s gone from Mahomes vs… Allen to Tua to Hurts & now to Jefferson, when it’s been Mahomes by a mile all along. https://t.co/sXVUpVGKgt

— nick wright (@getnickwright) December 27, 2022

So what I'm suggesting is drastic yet perhaps necessary. All MVP discussions should be banned before the last two weeks of the season. In all sports. Think of society if we weren't distracted by debating things that don't have actual answers because the answers will inevitably change.

Think of the shows as well. They would be better. They would have time to explore other topics. They could try out new bits. They could know a freedom once thought impossible because they thought they had to check this box at least twice a week.

Perhaps I'm a dreamer, but I can't be the only one who envisions a world where we simply waited to weigh in until the scales actually showed us something meaningful.

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Top 10 searched topics on Yahoo Finance Canada in 2022 - Yahoo Canada Finance

The Yahoo Finance audience was keenly interested in oil and gas prices in 2022. They were the most searched-for terms on the website this year.

Every year, the Yahoo Finance Canada team takes a look at what users were searching for the most on the site. There was no shortage of volatility and changing dynamics in financial markets, but cars and crypto were some of the biggest areas of interest among our audience. Here's a breakdown of what transpired in these sectors and beyond.

Energy

In a nail-biting year for all things energy, "oil prices" and "gas prices" ranked first and second, respectively, on Yahoo Finance Canada's top 10 most searched list.

In late-February, Russia's invasion of Ukraine roiled the global energy complex, sending benchmark crude prices to triple-digit highs last seen before the major oil price collapse that gained momentum in 2014. A growing consensus on a recession next year has weighed on prices since June.

But investors didn't ignore this year's crude rally, sending several oil and gas stocks to the top of the list of best performers on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Rather than risk investment on new production, many of those companies rewarded shareholders with juicier dividends and stock buybacks this year. Those upsized perks didn't sit well with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden as fuel prices climbed to record highs over the summer.

In October, Biden slammed American oil majors for booking "outrageous" profits. Trudeau's government is set to roll out a new two per cent tax on stock buybacks in January, double the one per cent excise included in Biden's climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act.

Analysts say strong returns from Canadian oil and gas stocks in 2023 will see the resource-heavy S&P/TSX Composite index (^GSPTSE) outperform U.S. markets next year.

While oil and gas investors rejoiced, 2022 was a year of pain at the pumps for drivers. Gasoline and diesel prices spiked to record highs due to a mix of resurgent demand, tight refinery capacity, and rising crude costs thanks to the war in Ukraine. According to Statistics Canada data, Vancouver saw an eye-watering average price of 225.4 cents per litre for regular gasoline in June.

Source: GasBuddy.com

Cryptocurrency

The second half of the year hasn't been kind to the crypto world. Bitcoin, the most well-known digital coin, is capping off 2022 trading at a two-year low.

Bitcoin and bitcoin price nabbed the fourth and eighth spots on the top 10 most searched list.

While some investors might be used to the boom-bust cycles of cryptocurrencies, confidence in the sector was particularly shaken by the abrupt collapse of crypto exchange platform FTX. Investors were hoping Binance, a rival exchange, would come to the rescue but those hopes were short-lived after Binance's CEO announced it walked away from its preliminary intention to acquire FTX.

Binance was the seventh most searched topic on the Yahoo Finance Canada website.

Coinbase (COIN), a major publicly-traded exchange platform, was fifth on the list. The company's stock is ending the year at an all-time low, unable to escape the curse of plunging cryptocurrency prices and industry scandals that have undermined investor confidence.

Transportation

In case you hadn't heard, Elon Musk bought Twitter and took it private in a deal worth $44 billion. But that's not the Musk-led company readers were looking into this year. Tesla stock (TSLA), which hit a 52-week low just before the holidays, was one of the top searched in 2022. Shares of the electric vehicle company have fallen about 66 per cent this year as of late-December, erasing around $626 billion of shareholder value, according to Bloomberg.

The slide doesn't just coincide with Musk's takeover of Twitter. Competition in the electric vehicle market has been heating up, with traditional automakers investing billions in new production around the world.

But Tesla wasn't the only transportation company Yahoo Finance Canada readers were keen to read up on. Air Canada (AC.TO) rounded out the list in the 10th spot. The Montreal-based airline had a tumultuous 2022, as it grappled with a surge in travel demand and what it called "operational instability" through its post-pandemic recovery.

The increase in demand, combined with labour shortages and processing issues, resulted in a wave of cancellations and delays and brought chaos to Canada's busiest airports. Air Canada's stock has had an equally bumpy ride through 2022, with shares down around 12 per cent this year as of late-December.

Rounding out the top 10

In a year shaped by inflation and geopolitical instability, "gold price" ranked number six on Yahoo Finance Canada's top 10 most searched list.

A go-to store of value when inflation runs hot, and a traditional safe haven when world events get spicy, the price of gold climbed to a 19-month high above US$2,000 per ounce in March as Russian President Vladimir Putin ramped up attacks on Ukraine. Since then, the yellow metal's performance has lagged, primarily due to the Federal Reserve raising interest rates by 425 basis points from March to December, strengthening U.S. Treasury yields.

Speaking of yellow and metal, "Canadian dollar" was number nine on this year's most searched list. The loonie had a tough year on the heels of strong performance against the U.S. dollar in 2021. After starting the year at about 79 cents U.S., Canada's currency has dropped to a two-year low, near 73 cents U.S. That's mainly due to the mighty greenback benefiting from its reputation as a global safe-haven currency, which has pushed it higher this year against many international peers.

The top 10 most searched-for topics on Yahoo Finance Canada in 2022

1. Oil prices

2. Gas prices

3. Tesla stock

4. Bitcoin

5. Coinbase

6. Gold price

7. Binance

8. Bitcoin price

9. Canadian dollar

10. Air Canada stock

Michelle Zadikian, Alicja Siekierska and Jeff Lagerquist are senior reporters at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow them on Twitter @m_zadikian, @alicjawithaj and @jefflagerquist.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.

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Off Topic Thread: Favorite Christmas Movies - Bluebird Banter

Christmas Eve and I don’t have to buy presents.

Erik_T is in town and we're going to go for a drink later today. Other than that, all I have today is cleaning. Oh, and wrapping.

And there is football today. Lots of football.

We are having our Christmas a couple of days late, my son and his girlfriend are coming down from Edmonton on the 27th, so we’ll have the day then, but we’ll have a nice meal tomorrow.

---

Today’s question is “What is your favourite Christmas movie?”

There is a number that I have to see every year.

A Wonderful Life is my favourite. Yes, I cry at the end every time. The line “No man is a failure if he has friends” always gets me. Friends have been a theme for me lately, I’ve always been the type that has a few very close friends, but in the last year, my circle of friends has grown. I think the two-plus years of not being able to see friends have made us more interested in meeting up with people. I have several friends with whom I go out for lunch every couple of weeks. And I have new friends I play squash and tennis with who are willing to have a beer after we play. I’m luckier than I deserve to be.

Holiday Inn is an old-time musical with Bing Crosby, and Fred Astaire aren’t much for actors, but one can sing, the other can dance, and they make a movie with a rather silly plot worth watching. Bing is lazy and opens an Inn that is only open on holidays. He and Fred fight over a woman, or two women, neither of whom can see these guys are jerks.

The movie was where the song ‘White Christmas’ first appeared.

Beyond that we watch Alastair Sim’s Christmas Carol every year. And Love Actually, which I think I like mostly because Alan Rickman and Bill Nighy are great in it, as much as most of it is stupid.

Tell us about your favourite Christmas movies. Even though Bruce Willis said it isn’t a Christmas movie, I am putting Die Hard in.

Poll

My Favorite Christmas Movie is

This poll is closed

• 8%

  Home Alone

  (8 votes)

• 7%

  Elf

  (7 votes)

• 15%

  It’s a Wonderful Life

  (14 votes)

• 14%

  Die Hard (not a Christmas movie to me)

  (13 votes)

• 23%

  National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

  (21 votes)

• 0%

  White Christmas

  (0 votes)

• 1%

  Holiday Inn

  (1 vote)

• 10%

  Christmas Carol

  (9 votes)

• 3%

  Love Actually

  (3 votes)

• 2%

  Bad Santa

  (2 votes)

• 0%

  How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carry, not the tv cartoon)

  (0 votes)

• 13%

  A Christmas Story

  (12 votes)

• 0%

  Something else.

  (0 votes)

90 votes total Vote Now

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'What's Up Welland?' podcast wraps up Season 1, covers topics ... - Niagara This Week

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'What's Up Welland?' podcast wraps up Season 1, covers topics ...  Niagara This Week
'What's Up Welland?' podcast wraps up Season 1, covers topics ... - Niagara This Week
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FASB defers sunset date of reference rate reform guidance - Wolters Kluwer

The FASB today issued Accounting Standards Update 2022-06—Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848), that extends the period of time preparers can utilize the reference rate reform relief guidance. The amendments in ASU No. 2022-06 are effective for all entities upon issuance.

In 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting.

The objective of the guidance in Topic 848 is to provide relief during the temporary transition period, so the FASB included a sunset provision within Topic 848 based on expectations of when the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) would cease being published. In 2021, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) delayed the intended cessation date of certain tenors of USD LIBOR to June 30, 2023.

To ensure the relief in Topic 848 covers the period of time during which a significant number of modifications may take place, the ASU defers the sunset date of Topic 848 from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in Topic 848.

Keep Reading on CCH® Accounting Research Manager.
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Topic of India's absence from WC raised again - The Tribune India

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 20

Though the curtains have been drawn on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with Lionel Messi’s Argentina lifting the golden trophy and returning home to a raucous welcome, India’s prolonged absence from the tournament continues to disturb the country’s lawmakers.

Congress MP VK Sreekandan raised the issue in the Lok Sabha through a starred question. He asked whether it is correct that the Blue Tigers have never qualified for the World Cup finals besides the 1950 edition, when the team was invited after a spate of withdrawals. The Sports Ministry, replying on behalf of Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, said: “Yes, India has never played the final round of a senior men’s or women’s World Cup. However, India was invited for the 1950 FIFA World Cup as there were teams that had withdrawn but didn't participate in the edition.”

Sreekandan further quizzed the government about its plans to ensure India qualifies for the major tournament in future.

The ministry clarified that the main responsibility lies with the national federation rather than the government.

“While the primary responsibility for taking effective steps is that of All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports supplements the efforts of AIFF by way of providing financial assistance to it under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for training and participation of India in international tournaments,” it added.

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TOPIC PAGE: EU market intervention in Europe's energy crisis - ICIS

Home News TOPIC PAGE: EU market intervention in Europe’s energy crisis

Will Beacham

20-Dec-2022

SHARE THIS

Updated to add graph comparing new EU price caps to gas prices.

The EU is playing a central role in coordinating Europe’s energy response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The push to move EU member states away from Russian energy dependency has contributed to high prices and concerns over supply.

EU political intervention covers a variety of areas including price and revenue caps and controls, demand management, gas storage mandates and potential market liquidity measures.

This topic page provides latest updates on the progress of these measures. .

Image credit: Shutterstock

EU energy ministers agree gas price cap mechanism
By Gretchen Ransow 19-Dec-22 20:33 LONDON (ICIS)–EU energy ministers agreed a temporary gas price cap mechanism on 19 December. It could apply to all hubs across the EU unless the European Commission decides to opt-out certain hubs.

The ceiling will apply to front-month, month+2, month+3 and front-year contracts traded on exchanges, but will not cover over-the-counter trade or spot transactions.

The market correction mechanism, agreed after months of negotiation, will be triggered if the front-month TTF price exceeds €180/MWh for three consecutive working days and this price is more than €35 above a reference LNG price over the same period.

The mechanism will become an option from 15 February and apply for one year, but could be extended pending evaluation.

Once activated the cap will turn dynamic and apply for at least 20 days, with transactions above a “dynamic bidding limit” not allowed.

This limit will be €35 above the LNG reference price. However, if the LNG price falls below €143, the limit will remain at €178/MWh.

Applying the agreement to all EU gas hubs is a change from drafts previously seen by ICIS.

However, the European Commission will have the chance to opt-out certain hubs at a later stage, Czech industry and trade minister Jozef Sikela said.

The Czech Republic currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency.

EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson confirmed “derivatives contracts concluded before its entry in to force” were excluded from the regulation “to facilitate an orderly transition”.

SUSPENSION

The regulation includes means to automatically suspend the cap, if it risks security of supply, financial stability, intra-EU gas flows or a significant increase in gas demand.

The commission, in partnership with the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) will constantly monitor markets from when the regulation enters into force on 1 February.

A rise in gas demand by 15% in one month or 10% in two months would trigger the mechanism’s suspension.

It would also be suspended if LNG imports or TTF liquidity were to drop “significantly”.

ASSESSEMENT

ESMA and ACER are to publish a preliminary impact assessment by 23 January 2023, on the effects of the mechanism on markets and security of supply.

The commission will then propose amendments to exclude regional hubs, if they would negatively impact the mechanism’s functioning, no later than 31 March.

ADOPTION

The mechanism was passed using qualified majority voting, with only one country voting against adopting the proposal at the final stage, Simson said.

The method requires at least 15 of 27 EU countries to vote in favour, and for those countries to represent 65% of the EU’s population.

INITIAL REACTION

The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has said it could relocate operations from the Netherlands to a jurisdiction outside the EU, and reiterated its concerns that a TTF price cap could destabilise the market and risk financial stability.

“We are reviewing the details of the announced market correction mechanism, its technical feasibility, the impact on financial stability, and whether ICE can continue to operate fair and orderly markets for TTF from the Netherlands as per our European regulatory obligations,” the exchange said in a statement.

“This will involve undertaking technical due diligence, engagement with the market, fulfilling governance and regulatory obligations, as well as considering our options.

“This will take time. In the meantime, ICE TTF markets will continue to be open for trading as usual.”

ICIS gas pricing methodology unaffected by price cap
By Jamie Stewart 19-Dec-22 19:30 LONDON (ICIS)–The stated aim of ICIS gas price assessments is to provide a reliable and accurate measure of physical market value, as specified in the ESGM methodology .

The wholesale gas price cap, or market correction mechanism, confirmed on 19 December by the European Commission, is a temporary measure that may be applied only to a limited number of TTF derivative futures traded and cleared on an exchange, and only if strict criteria are met.

In the event of the cap being triggered, ICIS will continue to reflect physical market value by taking into account over-the-counter (OTC) transactions unaffected by the price cap. This means the ICIS approach to assessing the TTF forward curve will not change.

Heren Indices, as per our methodology, only include OTC transactions and will also be unaffected by any price cap.

LATEST NEWS AND ANALYSIS

ICE relocation reports shake markets as price cap talks continue
By Aura Sabadus 16-Dec-22 18:08 LONDON (ICIS)–A decision to adopt a cap on the European benchmark TTF price would trigger an earthquake across markets, leading to a breakdown in liquidity, the relocation of operators and rocketing margin calls, traders told ICIS,

As the issue is set to be discussed by another Energy Council on 19 December, traders are concerned the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), where TTF products are traded, could relocate operations from the Netherlands to a jurisdiction outside the EU if the cap on the derivatives price is approved. ICE did not rule out such a possibility in its response to ICIS.

The outcome of the discussions will depend on France, which may accept to reject the cap, several traders told ICIS. At stake is a whether a request by France to have pink hydrogen, or hydrogen generated using nuclear capacity, is accepted as green technology.

Additional reporting by Daniela Miccoli.

EU energy price caps – Short-term gain, long-term pain
Aura Sabadus 21-Nov-2022 ICIS (LONDON)–EU leaders are pushing for a cap on ‘excessive and volatile’ gas prices to shield consumers ahead of winter. Although details are starting to emerge, it is still unclear whether a cap will be implemented and, if so, exactly how.

Whilst serving a clear purpose as a palatable solution to extreme price increases for many, price caps can and do have unintended negative consequences. They can increase demand precisely at the time when prices should be signalling that consumers use less. They can turn the distribution of a commodity, from a place of excess supply to one of high demand, from a simple operation to a highly inefficient, expensive and complex one. And they generally have to be paid for in the future, passing on costs that still have to be borne another day and denting long-term economic growth.

This paper reviews the risks and shows how market interventions lifted gas demand at a time when it should have been reduced in Spain, affected domestic gas production in Romania and led to significant economic imbalances in Turkey.

 

PODCAST: High gas prices, shortages here to stay, Europe chemicals must adapt
Will Beacham 29-Nov-2022 BARCELONA (ICIS)–Europe gas prices will remain high and shortages will persist for 2-3 years with major risks for winter 2023, according to a scenario analysis by ICIS.

• Winter 2023 supply risk more severe than this winter
• Mild weather gives false sense of security over gas supplies, prices
• Europe will have to maintain existing demand cuts throughout 2023
• Worse supply threat for peak demand winter 2023 than this year
• China revival would threaten Europe liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies
• Europe receives +50 bcm LNG, -63 bcm Russian gas January-October 2022 year-on-year
• Planned projects for 2023 could add 16 bcm to Europe LNG supply
• More LNG investment needed to fully replace Russian gas
• Gas prices forecast to remain above €100/MWh for 2-3 years
• Long-term Germany loses cheap Russian gas, exposed to global prices
• Brenntag’s proposed merger with Univar highlights change in chemical distribution
  In this Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews ICIS gas analyst Paula Di Mattia, ICIS insight editor Nigel Davis, and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

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TOPIC PAGE: EU market intervention in Europe's energy crisis - ICIS
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Off Topic: What is the worst Christmas song? - Bluebird Banter

It is roughly -150 degrees outside here in Calgary (well -29, feels like -43). I don’t remember the last time it was this cold. I was going to go for a workout today, but I might just stay in the house and try not to freeze to death.

It is days like this when I wonder why my parents choose Alberta to immigrate to. I guess they made a list of the coldest places on the planet and decided to go with number 2 on the list when they found Antarctica wasn't accepting immigrants.

Anyway, the Jays are unwilling to give us any news to talk about, so let's have a question.

What’s the worst Christmas song?

I don’t know. I like reggae, but I have no feel for it, so I wouldn’t try to play it. And I wouldn’t try to do a Jamaican accent. There are rules, I like to sing, and play with my guitars, but I stay away from forms of music that I have no feel for. I can look dumb in many ways. I don’t have to work at it.

Unfortunately, Bryan Adams doesn’t feel that way.

I also automatically hate any Christmas song played before December 1st.

Anyway, please give us your choice for the worst Christmas song.

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Toronto Maple Leafs: NHL Board of Governor’s Topics Offensively Dumb - Editor in Leaf

The Toronto Maple Leafs are having a great season, and recently lost a game that appeared to be refereed by a small child unfamiliar with the rules of the sport. 

In fact, the Toronto Maple Leafs recently lost a playoff series due to the NHL’s incompetent officiating and on top of that, they had to face to the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions in a first round matchup despite finishing fourth overall in the league.

You would think such stupidity would be the only topic when the NHL Board of Governors meet up to discuss the state of the game.

You would be wrong.

The NHL Is a Horribly Run League

One of the main topics in the news from the Board of Governor’s meeting includes extending the NHL regular season to 84 games in order to have some kind of extra regional rivalries, despite the fact that that’s an old-school way of thinking that no one cares about unless they are 80.

The league couldn’t be more out of touch on this topic. Fans wan to see their team win, and short of that, they want to see the other stars in the league.  NOBODY CARES about playing Ottawa or Buffalo an extra two or three times.

No one cares about this because it’s an extremely outdated idea.  Everyone currently watching sports today grew up in an era of free-agency and Seinfeld.  We do not care about laundry.

The other major topic is the salary cap. They say they are too poor to raise the cap because of Covid.  To this I say, we we all lost money, so shut up.  You sold your soul to gambling and it’s disgusting, wall-to-wall attempts to make every sports fan into an addict.  You put ads on jerseys and helmets, and expanded the league by an extra team.

Crying poor doesn’t fly.  It makes no sense, and when that happens you can be sure a lockout and cancelled games aren’t far behind.  There is four years left on the CBA, and the NHL is saying  that gambling didn’t juice it’s revenue, so enjoy the game of hockey while you can.

These greed-based topics are offensive. They are offensive because there are problems with the game of hockey everyone knows about, and the NHL apparently aren’t even talking about them.

The NHL should be discussing how their playoff format creates first round matchups that are likely superior to the Finals.

They should be discussing a minimum standard of ice quality league wide.  (Toronto is a cold city. Their ice is notoriously bad. I could understand this problem in Texas.  Not Toronto. This should not be OK).

They should be talking about how an MVP candidate on a 22 game point streak can have the puck behind the offensive net and have a stick broken on his hands without a call.

To sum up: I think today’s NHL fans are too sophisticated to care about regional rivalries very much.  I don’t think the NHL has anyone under 145 years old in these meetings or they’d know better.

The NHL needs to do a better job officiating, playoff seeding and  ice quality. All other discussions are irrelevant until these topics are addressed.

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Why are celebrities talking about menopause? Once taboo, the topic ... - Morningstar

By Jessica Hall

Speaking openly about menopause, no longer considered a 'natural plague,' can help educate people and prompt change

With public figures such as Michelle Obama and A-list celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts all talking about menopause, the once-unmentionable topic seems to be on everyone's lips.

Obama spoke on her podcast about having a hot flash aboard the Marine One airplane before an event and thinking, "This is crazy, I can't, I can't, I can't do this."

Winfrey said that during menopause, she suffered from heart palpitations, listlessness and an inability to focus long enough to read a book, one factor that led her to end Oprah's Book Club.

Gwyneth Paltrow, an actress and the creator of the wellness site Goop, said menopause "gets a really bad rap and needs a bit of a rebranding."

Meanwhile, Watts has launched a brand called Stripes that sells products for menopausal women, "because while menopause may be part of midlife, midlife is a lot more than just menopause," according to the website.

Also read: Over-the-hill birthday cards are getting old

All this is a major leap from 1966, when Robert A. Wilson, author of a book titled "Feminine Forever," called menopause "a natural plague" and menopausal women "crippled castrates."

"It's part of a very long-term shift in women's willingness to talk about things. It's less of a taboo subject," said Deborah Merrill, professor of sociology at Clark University and author of "Mastering Menopause: Women's Voices on Taking Charge of the Change."

"It's a shifting," she said, "but it's part of a very long and slow-moving trend."

The term menopause -- which technically begins one year after a woman's last menstrual period -- was coined by a French doctor, Charles de Gardanne, in 1821, but it's taken roughly 200 years for people to talk about it without denigrating women. Menopause has been blamed for everything from kleptomania to nymphomania to hysteria.

"Menopause has become normalized," Merrill said. "It's a natural part of a life course rather than some horrible thing that happens to you. Women are more willing to discuss it and less fearful of it as a result. It's part of an overall trend towards openness rather than some tragedy."

The conversation around menopause is similar to what happened when former first lady Betty Ford spoke about alcoholism: Talking openly about taboo topics can give people a greater understanding of an issue, help them relate and put a trusted face on a topic that might be hard to address, Merrill said.

"When you spotlight uncomfortable conversations, they get easier," Watts wrote in an Instagram post about menopause. "Progress is made. Why has this particular one taken so long?"

Stephanie Faubion, director of the Mayo Clinic's Center for Women's Health, said that as new generations approach menopause, the conversation continues to change for the better.

"Women who are savvier with social media are directing the conversation. Women in the past found themselves in a vacuum. There's much more conversation now and it's now more socially acceptable than even 10 years ago," Faubion said. "People were hesitant in the past to talk about it or mention it, especially in the workplace -- there was a bit of ageism associated with it, too."

The open discussion of menopause helps women "recognize that menopause is not a disease or a condition that must be cured," said Susan Wood, professor of health policy and management at George Washington University.

Menopause first started to be spoken about publicly when researchers at the ongoing Women's Health Initiative study wrote in a controversial 2002 report that the use of estrogen plus progestin therapy after menopause increased the risk for heart disease, stroke, blood clots, breast cancer and dementia, Wood said.

"Before the WHI study, menopause wasn't discussed. Women were described as ill and undesirable. Pretty shocking stuff was said back then," she said.

Subsequent studies have found that younger women and those close to menopause had a beneficial risk-to-benefit ratio for the use of hormones. The North American Menopause Society says that hormone therapy continues to have a role in the short-term management of menopausal symptoms but should not be used over the long term to try to prevent chronic disease.

"Staying in shape after menopause takes a lot of frickin' work," model and actress Paulina Porizkova wrote on Instagram. "I may not be as strong or as supple or as smooth as in my youth, but I am comfortable with my vulnerabilities, conscious of my weaknesses, proud of my strengths."

Today's more open dialogue about menopause can help women by providing more information, making them more comfortable in addressing their questions openly with their doctors and emboldening them to advocate for their own health, experts say.

Read: Managing your menopause symptoms: tips from women's health experts

"This is not a disability, but it does affect half the population. It's good that people like Michelle Obama are talking about it and normalizing it. Now you may be more comfortable asking questions of your doctor," said Monica Christmas, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Chicago.

Open conversations arm women with more courage to demand better care, Faubion said.

"More and more, women are not willing to suffer. Some women have no symptoms. But most women will have some symptoms, and some are really suffering," Faubion said.

"Women assume there's nothing that can be done. And there's a lot of suffering. Women are missing a lot of work, not taking a promotion, retiring early -- it's costing billions of dollars in lost productivity by not treating women properly," Faubion said.

"It's a good thing that celebrities are talking about it. Women see they're not the only ones suffering," she added.

Still, Christmas cautioned that while celebrity conversations might be a good way to jump-start discussion, they shouldn't be the be-all, end-all for knowledge about menopause.

"Patients end up getting information from the internet or getting information from a celebrity. That should not replace talking to your doctor and getting trusted information," Christmas said.

-Jessica Hall

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

12-17-22 1120ET

Copyright (c) 2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Topic and HRVY Unleash 'All or Nothing' - Broadway World

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Topic and HRVY Unleash 'All or Nothing'  Broadway World
Topic and HRVY Unleash 'All or Nothing' - Broadway World
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Agency nurses a major topic of discussion at hospital board meeting - pentictonherald.ca

GREY-BRUCE – The issue of agency nurses continues to be a major topic of discussion by the South Bruce Grey Health Centre board of directors.

At the board meeting Dec. 6, Mandy Dobson, chief nursing executive, said in her report that agency nurses are used at all four hospital sites.

Dobson said in recent months, more agency nurses have become available.

“It’s allowed us to be more selective,” she said, ensuring the nurses hired through the agencies are able to work in medical/surgical and emergency departments.

Currently, there are nine agency RNs and four RPNs.

There were questions about the possible impact of winter weather on the availability of agency nurses. Dobson answered that some of the agency nurses live “within the region,” meaning they’re aware of the weather in this area. In addition, the agency nurses often sign up for two or three shifts.

One member of the board quipped the weather might result in them working more shifts if they get snowed in.

The financial impact of agency nurses was discussed during the presentation of the corporate resources committee report. Board member Doug Harris said that as of October, SBGHC’s financials show a deficit of $400,000 (from a $360,000 surplus at the end of June). This is due to a number of factors besides agency nurses, including the ministry discontinuing incremental COVID expense payments.

CEO Michael Barrett explained in a later interview that during COVID, the province covered the cost of screeners, infection control measures and agency nurses. He said that after two-and-a-half years, the payments ended as of June 30. However, the payments could be extended.

There’s also the money paid to the Chesley doctors while the ER was closed for eight weeks.

A year-end deficit of $1.9 million is projected at this point, including $800,000 for agency nurses, sick time and overtime. This means capital reserves of $4.7 million could see a “cash erosion” of $2 million for 2022-23.

Barrett said in an interview after the meeting that he “anticipated additional revenue” from the province.

“The $1.9 million is going to come down,” he said.

The bottom line is that all four hospital sites continue to be “heavily reliant” on agency nurses, especially Walkerton and Chesley.

The province has announced the expansion of several programs to bolster the health-care workforce including an enhanced extern program, an expansion of the supervised practice experience partnership program, and an expansion of the community commitment program for nurses.

Hospitals prepare ‘surge plan’

In preparation for a possible surge in the number of patients, Barrett told the board that Ontario Health has asked hospitals to prepare a “surge plan” to accommodate 120 per cent existing capacity. This would be accomplished by such measures as scaling down surgeries and procedures and implementing “team-based care.”

It’s not as dramatic as it might sound – Barrett said last week three of the four sites were over-capacity – pretty much that 120 per cent.

It isn’t only to accommodate a local influx of patients, he noted. Freeing up capacity locally means the larger hospitals can ship back patients so they can look after the sickest people. “We’ve been told to be prepared to do this if necessary,” he said. There are no plans at present to scale back surgeries as was done at the height of the pandemic.

Dr. Lisa Roth said in her chief of staff report that every year, plans are made in case there is a surge of patients with the flu at Christmas, into the new year.

“This year we might have to use it,” she said.

Roth referred to the “mini surge” the previous week and commented that “everyone did extremely well.”

Chesley ER partly open

As of Dec. 5, the emergency department at the Chesley hospital reopened on a five-days a week basis, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. While the goal continues to be to have the ER open 24/7, it does provide the community with some emergency coverage.

Barrett said in his report to the board that the “community is looking for more but right now that’s not possible.”

He stressed that communications have been sent out advising people in need of immediate attention “not to wait for the ER to open – go to the nearest ER that’s open or call 911.” Symptoms that demand immediate attention include chest pain and other indicators of a heart attack.

Tracking mental health and addiction

Board member Jim Bagshaw reported on a new indicator that will be tracked for quality improvement purposes, along with such items as wait times in the ER.

The new indicator is people with mental health or addiction issues, whose first point of contact is the ER. He explained that a high number would indicate a greater need for resources in the community.

“Right now, we’re just gathering data,” he said. The target is implementation in 2023.

KROC right on track

Board chair Bill Heikkila reported that the renovations in preparation for the new CT scanner in Kincardine are right on track.

The machine is scheduled to arrive in late February, with startup in late March of 2023.

Good weather in November meant the asphalt companies were still open, and the paving was done, meaning that come spring, the site will be clean.

“The redevelopment is progressing well,” Heikkila said. “Construction could start in late 2025.”

He noted fundraising is swinging into high gear.

A virtual community information event for Kincardine and area residents, and other interested people, is planned for Monday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. The session will be held via Zoom. To register, contact communications@sbghc.on.ca.

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O-Zone: Hot topic - jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Look-ahead Wednesday …

Let's get to it …

Mike from Cartersville (AKA Trevortown), GA

"Life finds a way." So, are the playoffs still on the table? What's interesting for me is who they've beaten and played well against. I could see them being that team everyone would quietly hope to avoid in January.

The playoffs are absolutely still a possibility for the Jaguars in 2022. While there are multiple possibilities, the most straightforward scenarios involve the Jaguars (5-8) making up the two games by which they trail the first-place Tennessee Titans (7-6) in the AFC South and finishing tied for first in the division. If that happens and the Jaguars beat the Titans in the regular-season finale, the Jaguars will win the AFC South no matter the teams' overall records because they will have swept the Titans. Head-to-head record is the first tiebreaker. I agree that who the Jaguars have beaten and played well against this season is intriguing. Two of their five victories have come against AFC division leaders – the Titans and the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens (9-4) – in the last three weeks. They also beat the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. The Jaguars have competed well with a realistic chance to win all their games except losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions, and they have fared well against multiple contenders. There are no "good opponents" in the postseason. But would the Jaguars be dangerous if they got there? Absolutely.

Greg from Atlanta, GA

Trevor Lawrence was drafted as a generational quarterback and one of the most hyped draft picks of all time. Obviously, it's not fair to say expect him to be Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but what level of success do you think he will need to live up to his draft hype? Let's say he ends up being a consistent Top 8-12 quarterback, but never an MVP candidate. Would that be considered a success?

I find these sorts of questions impossible to answer. Every observer and fan define such things differently, and there are different levels of success. Some no doubt "expect" Lawrence to win a Super Bowl and will consider him a "failure" if he does not. Others expect multiple Super Bowls and multiple Most Valuable Player awards. I see the NFL as ultra-competitive, and I also believe quarterbacks are often too harshly judged on Super Bowls. While quarterbacks can lift otherwise less-than-great teams to the postseason, whether a team wins the Super Bowl often depends on matchups, health and good fortune. I expect a franchise, elite quarterback to be able to get teams to the postseason consistently and have their teams in position to make a run at the end of the season more often than not. If Lawrence does that consistently and the Jaguars have an extended run of playoffs with Super Bowl hopes many seasons, that would be a success in my view. Others feel differently. That's fine. Others are entitled to be incorrect sometimes, too.

Bradley from Sparks, NV

Lawrence's 2022 stats if he maintains post-London level would be around 4,500 yards, 30 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 100 rating.

Would they? That would be good, I suppose. I don't pay all that much attention to season-ending statistics in the NFL. As the league has added games, the numbers that defined greatness in my youth – back in the days of white footballs and no facemasks – don't mean all that much. I know if Lawrence maintains his post-London level he's going to continue to give this team a chance to win most games and make this team's future very bright.

Emerson from ATX

Jags finally have a tight end with over 50 receptions. Who was the last one, Julius Thomas?

Marcedes Lewis in 2012 caught 52 passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns. He was the last Jaguars tight end with 50 or more receptions in a season.

Tom from St Johns

How many of us (including the KOAF) can honestly say that on Labor Day they expected to be watching the talking heads on television after Game 13 of the season show a big graphic that listed under the heading "In The Hunt" the bold letters JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS??

JR from the Squatchlands

Can we pleeease keep Evan Engram?

This will be a late-season and offseason storyline. Jaguars tight end Evan Engram signed one-year, "prove-it" deal as an unrestricted free agent last offseason. He has fit in well with the offense, and had by far his most productive day of his six-year career in Sunday's victory over the Tennessee Titans with 11 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. The Jaguars will have to be very judicious in which free agents they retain this offseason, but my sense is Engram could be one they try to maneuver and re-sign.

Zac from Austin, Tejas

I'll go on record officially now and say I'd rather have an impressive passing quarterback who is pretty good at running than a pretty good passing qb who is impressive at running.

So would anyone who understands the NFL.

Steve from The Hill

Do you think Cisco will be back this week? Gonna need him against Dallas O.

Safety Andre Cisco is expected to be day-to-day this week with the shoulder injury that has kept him out of the last two games. I expect him to play, but that's a gut feeling not inside information.

Ralph from Santa Fe, NM

Hey O, the future looks bright playoffs or not. We don't have a true No. 1 receiver this current year, but the way TL spreads the ball around do you think we will eventually need one? Can TL be that guy to make everyone better?

The Jaguars are expected to have Calvin Ridley at wide receiver next season after acquiring him in a trade this season with the Atlanta Falcons. While Ridley has been out of football since October of 2021 (suspended since March of 2022), he has the skill set of a No. 1 receiver. I don't know if the Jaguars will need a true No. 1 receiver with Lawrence. I know that the entire offense would benefit from one, primarily because of how such a player forces defenses to defend them.

Matthew from Jacksonville

Can you keep a secret? The Jags are not going to the playoffs. Don't tell your one reader this. But, Cowboys are just too good and Titans always win a surprising game or two a season. Dallas will score at least 30 points. Our defense is not up to the task.

I don't expect the Jaguars to beat the Cowboys Sunday because I think Dallas indeed is the better team at this point. I also think it's unlikely the Jaguars catch the Titans. But could the Jaguars win all their games except the Dallas game? And could the Titans conceivably lose to the Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas and the Jaguars? It's unlikely. But it's far from impossible.

Sean from Oakleaf, FL

Fun fact: The NFC East is 12-1 versus the AFC South so far in 2022 with three games remaining. The fun here is you have long downplayed any angst or salivating over an alleged easy or tough schedule ahead of the start of the season. Not sure many experts saw the NFC East (with 36 wins) being the significantly better division than the AFC West (25 wins) who attracted all the attention in this summer.

I found the hype last offseason over the AFC West amusing, and the oft-uttered idea that it would be the best division in league history absurd. While the division made noise in the offseason with high-profile acquisitions such as quarterback Russell Wilson (Denver), wide receiver Davante Adams (Las Vegas) and pass rusher Khalil Mack (Los Angeles Chargers), history has proven again and again that huge offseason expenditures often do little to truly shape the league. This is not to say that offseason moves never have the desired effect. The Philadelphia Eagles, for example, absolutely have benefitted from acquiring wide receiver A.J. Brown. But major improvement and elite teams more often come from within – and specifically, through drafted players playing together and growing around high-level quarterback play.

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL

Until Sunday, I've seen Lawrence as a young quarterback trying to learn, improve and be an efficient and effective part of the offense. After Sunday? It now seems clear that Trevor owns this offense. Completely. It has become his team. Another sign of a generational, franchise quarterback?

Ron from Orlando, FL

Easy with the playoff talk Johnny. A week ago we were embarrassed by the three-win Lions. I get it, we have a shot, but we only do because the AFC South is pure garbage

I'll talk about what I like. The Detroit Lions have won six games, including five of their last six. They beat the 10-3 Minnesota Vikings last Sunday. The Jaguars have a chance at the playoffs in December for the first time in five seasons. That's going to be a topic here until it's no longer the case.

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