Nordic roundup: PFA, AMF, Industriens Pensions
“The Danish krone has become substantially weakened relative to foreign currencies,” he said.“It strengthens the Danish companies’ competitiveness, and it gives an advantage to companies that have a large proportion of their earnings in foreign currency when they have to convert it into Danish kroner.”Meanwhile, Swedish pension fund AMF reported a rise in returns to 12.7% for 2014 from 9.3% the year before, on the back of falling bond yields and rising equities prices.But contributions into the scheme for traditional pension products fell during the year, the fund said, explaining that this drop was in line with its strategy of focusing on core business.Contributions into traditional with-profit plans fell 8% to SEK14.6bn (€1.6bn) in 2014 from SEK15.9bn in 2013, the fund said on publishing its annual report.This fall was mainly due, it said, to lower premium flows through intermediaries as a result of the fact it had stopped doing commission-based business.Johan Sidenmark, managing director, said: “AMF began 2014 with strategic work focusing on reducing complexity and lower costs.“As the first company in the industry, we are conducting extensive work to aggregate insurance with the same or better conditions in order to simplify things for our customers and enable further fee reductions.”Overall profit at the AMF group fell to SEK19.7bn in 2014 from SEK47.6bn, the fund said, explaining that changes to the discount rate used to re-evaluate liabilities meant SEK29.7bn had been taken away from this figure last year, while the rate had added SEK13.6bn to the figure the year before.Total assets under management grew to SEK508bn at the end of December from SEK450bn a year before.Administration costs were trimmed to 0.13% by the end of 2014 from 0.16% a year before.In other news, Industriens Pension saw a high level of transfers out of its scheme into other schemes during 2014, according to the Danish labour-market pension fund’s annual report.Overall, membership numbers fell in 2014 as a result of an extraordinarily large number of passive members having transferred their savings to other pension providers, Industriens Pension said.Total membership dropped to 396,403 from 404,631.The number of passive scheme members fell to 154,126 in 2014 from 167,669 at the end of 2013.A spokesman for Industriens said the high volume of transfers out during the year was due to a tax anomaly that had forced members wishing to transfer their savings to wait until they had been compensated for double taxation on part of the total.He said the annual transfers out had corresponded to an equal number of transfers into the Industriens scheme from other providers.In the report, the scheme said the number of scheme members actively paying in had risen by 12%, or 3,040 members. This growth followed a period of falling membership numbers, it said.“The increase should be seen in the context of the favourable development in employment within the industry,” it said. Denmark’s largest commercial pension provider PFA Pension has said its Danish equities investments have returned 18% since the beginning of this year, or DKK2.8bn (€375m) in absolute terms.It said it expects Danish equities to generate double-digit returns this year as the weaker krone helps exporters’ profitability.Jesper Langmack, director at PFA’s investment arm PFA Asset Management, said: “We have seen some excellent results from a range of the biggest Danish companies.”He said the pension fund expected this full year to be one in which there was once more double-digit growth in Danish stocks.
The Telegraph 21 Mar 2013Parents want sex education to be taught in its “moral context” with an emphasis on marriage and the importance of the legal age of consent, a Government report has found.More than half of respondents to an official consultation said it was essential that sex and relationship classes promote self-respect and ensure children “value their own bodies”.The report – published by the Department for Education – said that many people believed that “teaching about abstinence before marriage should be taught alongside contraception”. It came as the DfE outlined a new system in which schools would be tasked with drawing up their own curriculum covering personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) – the non-compulsory subject used to deliver sex education lessons.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9947049/Sex-education-should-promote-value-of-abstinence.html
In 2000, when Oregon resident, Jeanette Hall, had less than a year to live, she asked her cancer doctor for the pills to commit suicide. Dr. Kenneth Stevens got to know her better and inspired her to consider treatment. The tumor just “melted away” and now — 15 years later — Jeanette says: “It’s great to be alive!”
At least five people were killed in a suicide bomb attack in the northern Cameroon town of Mora on Sunday, in what appeared to be the latest cross-border attack by Nigeria’s Boko Haram islamist militant group.The dead include two civilians and the two suicide bombers, who detonated themselves at around 8:00am when they were stopped by a police officer near the entrance of the town.The suicide bombers were both female and are strongly being linked with al Shabaab following the islamist group’s frequent attacks in the region in recent times.A police officer was also killed in the attack.
The Argentinian right-back’s club Velez Sarsfield confirmed on Wednesday night that a deal has been agreed and that the 21-year-old would travel to Wearside with a view to sealing his transfer. Peruzzi’s proposed move appeared to have stalled over personal terms earlier this week, but that problem has been ironed out and now it appears to be just a matter of completing a medical and the remaining formalities. The South American would become the club’s ninth signing after Valentin Roberge, Modibo Diakite, Cabral, Vito Mannone, Jozy Altidore, Duncan Watmore, David Moberg Karlsson and El-Hadji Ba, although Simon Mignolet, Titus Bramble, Matt Kilgallon and Ahmed Elmohamady have left and more could follow. Meanwhile, the Black Cats are understood to be closing in on a deal for Juventus midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini, although despite media claims to the contrary in Italy, no deal is yet in place, and Panathinaikos winger Greek winger Charalampos Mavrias is expected on Wearside next week to seal his switch. However, sources on Wearside have played down suggestions that they are close to the capture of Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone, although he is known to be a player manager Paolo Di Canio rates highly. Sunderland’s summer recruitment drive shows few signs of slowing down with defender Gino Peruzzi due in England on Thursday to tie up his move.
Press Association
Malky Mackay reiterated that he will not resign as Cardiff manager following his side’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. “I won’t be walking away,” Mackay told BT Sport. “That’s the first thing. I’m proud to be the manager of Cardiff City.” “I’m a proud and passionate man to lead this football club and lead this team. I have done for two and a half years,” he added. “I couldn’t look at myself resigning.” Mackay refused to be drawn on questions about why he may be forced out of the club. “It’s something you are going to have to ask other people,” he said. “I’ll just work hard with my group of players – as I have done for two and a half years – and that won’t change.” The 41-year-old led Cardiff into the Premier League for the first time last season and they sit four points above the drop zone after Saturday’s loss – which came following another Luis Suarez masterclass. Suarez scored twice and set up Raheem Sterling for the other as the Reds were out of sight before half-time. Despite that the away support continued to show their support for their manager – and apparent anger at Tan who was watching from the stands – before being rewarded with a Jordon Mutch consolation goal. “You see the fans how much they are backing the team. You see how much they should be enjoying the Premier League this season,” Mackay said. “Home and away the way our fans back the team – they’ve done that all season in terms of numbers they come in and noise. “I’m so proud that I represent them and my staff and players represent them. We represent the whole of Cardiff as a city and we are going to make sure we make a fist of this.” Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers labelled the position Mackay finds himself in as “ridiculous” and lauded the Bluebirds fans for their support of him. “It’s the very least he deserves,” Rodgers said. “Credit to the Liverpool fans also they paid their tribute and appreciated the position. “There’s only one person who doesn’t see that Malky is doing a brilliant, brilliant job there. “They came out fighting for themselves and the manager in the second half. It is a ridiculous situation that has seen him come under pressure.” Mackay’s position has come under fresh doubt this week after club owner Vincent Tan sent him an e-mail requesting him to stand down or be sacked. Mackay is certain that he will not be walking away from the job and enjoyed strong backing from the away fans who chanted his name – and held up ‘Tan out’ banners – long after the final whistle at Anfield. Press Association
HEAD coach of the bottom team in the GFF-STAG Elite League, Linden’s Topp XX, is confident of improving the dismal first-round performance while condemning the attitude of players.Reviewing his team’s first half showing, coach Michael McKinnon stated that a combination of factors contributed to the team’s placement at the bottom of the 6-team table:“It was a very disappointing first round for us but at the same time it is quite understandable, the reasons behind our poor showing. The main problem was the preparation which was just not good enough as players were not coming out and when you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail.“Our preparation, before calls by some teams to denounce our inclusion, was good, but after the back and forth between some clubs and the GFF, and nothing definitive was set, players lost interest as it was being rumoured that we would not be part of the Elite League.“That severely affected us as some players migrated to other teams and forced us to put players to play positions that they do not normally play as well as to call on the younger players of the club.“Even when the competition started the players did not show much enthusiasm in training and all through the season we had a kind of an attitude towards training that did not help our performance at all,” the former national defender told Chronicle Sport.The coach feels all is not lost and boasted about the quality of the team: “What has happened cannot be changed but in going forward we can ensure that we do not repeat the same performance; so our goal for the second half is to improve our play and position and that has to start with the right attitude towards training.“There is no doubt that we possess the players with the talent and knowledge of the game to compete with the best but fitness will be the key since the mental cannot function properly if the physical is not fit,” explained McKinnon.Coach McKinnon added that the Elite League is a positive direction for the ‘Beautiful Game’ in Guyana but feels the promotional aspect is lacking:“The league is very good for football development in the country since players and teams move around while getting the opportunity to showcase their talents. I believe, however, that the League deserves to be better promoted, especially in the out-of-town areas.”The coach also said that he was in full support of the long break between the two halves of season two of the Elite League, For me, I welcome the long break because we can get better prepared, but I know there are other teams who feel the break is too long. We are going to make good use of this period.”In his estimation, Topp XX must improve on their weaknesses during the break. ”Our goalkeeping was very poor and was the weakest area for us. I think 18-year-old Jamal Caster who looked good in practice sessions was too nervous in the games and did not concentrate fully in goal. It was a learning experience for him, but we surely will be strengthening that department. Also our fitness is of great concern and an area where we fell down in as well so a lot of work must be done there as well.”For the second half, McKinnon in tandem with the club officials, who have been very supportive, will be making full use of the transfer window to beef up the squad and finish higher in the table.“We definitely will be boosting our roster for the second round and for sure we will not be at the bottom again,” he promised.
Coach Shane Stapleton says they’ll take it game by game, but are happy with preparations so far… Getting game time ahead of a busy league schedule for the Tipp senior footballers is important ahead of the step up from Division 3.Next Tuesday, they face the challenge of University College Cork, in Dr. Morris Park, in their final challenge game ahead of their opening National Football League encounter with Cork.Last night they overcame the Garda college at Dr Morris Park, on a scoreline of 1-19 to 1-10.
AFCON 2019 QUALIFIER*To be flown to Asaba today ahead of Friday’s dead-rubber clashDuro Ikhazuagbe Despite not having anything to play for beyond pride, the Pirates of Seychelles flew into Abuja yesterday for Friday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash with the Super Eagles.According to Ademola Olajire, the Communications Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seychelles’ 29-man delegation that flew into Abuja aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight yesterday afternoon is to be flown to Asaba, venue of the dead-rubber game this morning.Super Eagles emerged Group E leaders on 10 points and a ticket to the finals. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana who are second behind Eagles are having nine points with Libya third on seven points. Seychelles’ Pirates are out of reckoning on just a point.Only South Africa’s victory over Libya away in Tunisia on Friday can drop Nigeria to the runners-up position of the group going into Friday’s Draw ceremony at CAF’s headquarters in Cairo.Meanwhile, Super Eagles handlers now have full compliments of all the 23 players invited for the AFCON 2019 qualifier against Seychelles.Reports from Asaba yesterday evening indicated that the last five players to join Eagles camp in Asaba include; Hapoel Beer Sheva’s John Ogu, Stoke City’s Oghenekaro Etebo, Anorthosis Famagusta goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, Wolfsburg loanee Victor Osimhen and Galatasaray forward Henry Onyekuru.Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye confirmed training took place at 4.45pm with all the 23 players present at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, venue of Friday’s clash with the Pirates. The training was open to the media and fans.Eagles are scheduled to hold three more training sessions before stepping out onto the Stephen Keshi Stadium turf for the AFCON qualifier on Friday.Coach Gernot Rohr is likely to pay special attention to Akwa United’s Ndifreke Effiong and Brighton’s Leon Balogun due to question marks surrounding their fitness levels.Effiong sustained a knee injury last weekend in a Nigeria Professional Football League clash with Heartland in Okigwe while Balogun has been inactive since February 6 due to a shoulder injury.Speaking with reporters after the first training session in Asaba yesterday, Rohr appears to have made a U-turn on completely ruling out the home-based players from the AFCON 2019 party in Egypt later in June.”We have invited Effiong from Akwa United, so we have four home-based players,” said Rohr at a media parley attended by allnigeriasoccer.com.”We have Udo, the captain of the U-20 team, who played very well in the last U-20 AFCON, then we also have Ezenwa and Valentine who is a tall defender and good.”There is competition for our list for the Africa Cup of Nations.”The matches against Seychelles and Egypt should serve as an audition for Ikouwem Udo, Valentine Ozornwafor and Ndifreke Effiong to earn spots on the AFCON roster, given that Ikechukwu Ezenwa will be heading to Egypt as one of the three goalkeepers.After the AFCON 2019 clash with Seychelles, Super Eagles are to also play Pharaohs of Egypt four days later in an international friendly on Tuesday, March 25 as part of the team’s preparations for the finals.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram
Yasiel Puig is likely headed to the disabled list with a right intercostal oblique strain. He will have an MRI on Monday. Puig, who had hit a three-run homer to put the Dodgers up 3-0 in the second, was hurt taking a huge cut at the third pitch of his second at-bat.“The only thing I can do now is rest,” Puig said.Puig’s homer ended up being all the Dodgers would get, which is just what Manager Mike Scioscia had hoped when he gave Andrew Heaney a pep talk in the dugout following the hanging curve he threw Puig.“He said ‘Keep them there,’” Heaney recalled. “‘We’re going to score some runs. We’re going to win this game.’”The Angels did, starting with Justin Upton’s two-run single in the third, just after Mike Trout had been intentionally walked to load the bases. Upton had just one hit in his previous 19 at-bats with runners in scoring position.Related Articles “Justin was in little bit of a down cycle, but one thing his process is good,” Scioscia said. “He doesn’t expand. He takes his walks if they’re there. When he starts squaring baseballs up, it’s going to give us a big lift.”Albert Pujols then tied the game in the sixth with a solo homer against Alex Wood, who was done for the night after the inning.When the Dodgers removed their lefty starter to start the inning, it provided the perfect opportunity for Scioscia to use Ohtani, who had been getting treatment on his sore right knee for most of the day.Scioscia probably would not have started Ohtani anyway on Sunday, because the Dodgers were starting the left-handed Wood. Once the Dodgers brought in the right-handed J.T. Chargois to start the seventh, he had to face at least one hitter. It was Ohtani, hitting for Jefry Marte.Chargois threw him a 2-and-2 fastball that was 95.8 mph on the inner half of the plate. Ohtani blasted the ball 443 feet to straightaway center field.It was his seventh homer of the season, and first as a pinch-hitter. He hadn’t homered since May 17. He had missed almost a month on the disabled list, waiting for his elbow to heal.“It’s really impressive,” Heaney said of Ohtani. “It’s great to have for us, obviously you bring in a guy like that to pinch hit or have him at DH. It’s going to definitely help our lineup.”Ohtani’s homer came just in time to get a victory for Heaney, who had retired 12 in a row after the Puig homer and did not allow another run through his seven innings. He struck out 10.Hansel Robles and Justin Anderson then worked the final two innings — with Blake Parker and Cam Bedrosian both unavailable from recent heavy work, Scioscia said — to lock up the series win for the Angels.“Maybe it just takes a series like this where you can get a little bit of something going,” Heaney said. “That’d be great if we did.” Angels’ Shohei Ohtani spending downtime working in outfield Angels’ poor pitching spoils an Albert Pujols milestone Newsroom GuidelinesNews TipsContact UsReport an Error PreviousLos Angeles Angels relief pitcher Justin Anderson throws to the plate during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, watches the ball go out as he hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols rounds first as he hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) SoundThe gallery will resume insecondsLos Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig hits a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols, right, hits a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes watches during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, left, tosses his bat as he hits a three-run home run while Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado watches during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Young fans spray themselves with water during a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Matt Kemp shields himself from the sun during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, right, is congratulated by Matt Kemp, left, and Logan Forsythe after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols, right, rounds third after hitting a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood wipes his head during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, left, walks off the field as a trainer, center, and manager Dave Roberts, right, follow after Puig was injured while batting during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig gestures after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, right, celebrates as he hits a three-run home run while Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado watches during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Justin Anderson throws to the plate during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, watches the ball go out as he hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)NextShow Caption1 of 14Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, watches the ball go out as he hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)ExpandANAHEIM — When Shohei Ohtani stepped to the plate in the seventh inning of a tie game Sunday night, he was still feeling the effects of the ball he had fouled into his knee a night earlier.“It was going to be hard for me to run all out,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “I was glad I was able to hit a home run, so I didn’t have to run.”The Angels rookie phenom, who is now limited to hitting while his injured elbow prevents from pitching, added another chapter to the lore of his season with a tie-breaking pinch-hit homer in the Angels’ 4-3 victory over the Dodgers on Sunday night.Sign up for Home Turf and get exclusive stories every SoCal sports fan must read, sent daily. Subscribe here.The Angels took two of three from the Dodgers to win the Freeway Series, just before the Dodgers continued down the freeway — to San Diego — with a new issue. Jose Suarez’s rocky start sinks Angels in loss to Astros Angels offense breaks out to split doubleheader with Astros Angels’ Mike Trout working on his defense, thanks to Twitter 