Latest news with #PHF
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Toronto Sceptres bring back key forwards Natalie Spooner and Jesse Compher
Natalie Spooner is staying put. The Sceptres ' forward and former PWHL's Most Valuable Player has signed a two-year extension to stay with Toronto through 2026-2027. 'As someone born and raised in Toronto, it means so much to represent my hometown. This city, this team, and our amazing fans have a special place in my heart,' the 34-year-old star said in the team statement announcing her signing Tuesday. 'I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue building something special here and can't wait to bring a Walter Cup to Toronto.' Spooner, who previously played for the Toronto Furies in the defunct Canadian Women's Hockey League, took the PWHL by storm in the first season and finished it with the league-leading 27 points and 20 goals. But a devastating ACL injury took her out of the playoffs and she stayed sidelined until this past February. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Sceptres' general manager Gina Kingsbury said in a statement that Spooner remains a significant 'piece of the puzzle' for Toronto on and off the ice. 'She is a world-class athlete that has shown just how impactful she can be in this league. With her determination and work ethic, we know Natalie will come back in Season 3 ready to help our team be successful,' Kingsbury said. Spooner's teammate and fellow forward Jesse Compher also received a similar two-year extension to stay in Toronto, as the team continues to retool and get ready for a new season after losing several players earlier. Compher, 25, had a productive season with Toronto and recorded 18 points (9-9-18) in 30 regular season games this past season. 'Playing in front of a sold-out crowd in the best city, with the most passionate fans, is an absolute honour,' Compher said in the statement. 'Over the past two years, my teammates and coaches have made this place feel like home, and I can't wait to get to work with this group.' Hockey Toronto Six star Elaine Chuli set the standard for the goalie renaissance in the PHF With the second-most wins in PHF history, Chuli is part of a group of elite goalies, which is led by Pride netminder Corinne Schroeder this season. Hockey Toronto Six star Elaine Chuli set the standard for the goalie renaissance in the PHF With the second-most wins in PHF history, Chuli is part of a group of elite goalies, which is led by Pride netminder Corinne Schroeder this season. The team had announced earlier Tuesday that goaltender Elaine Chuli signed a one-year deal along with forward Claire Dalton, the first two signings for the Sceptres this off-season. They both played the past two seasons with the Montreal Victoire. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Elaine brings consistency to our team,' general manager Kingsbury said in a statement. 'A proven goalie in the league, she brings a lot of traits we value both on and off the ice. We are also excited to have signed Claire Dalton, who brings size, a great shot and a high ceiling.' Chuli helped the Toronto Six win the Isobel Cup in 2023 in the defunct Premier Hockey Federation, a year after winning the league's goaltender of the year award. 'I couldn't be more excited to be coming home to Toronto and joining the Sceptres for next season,' the Waterford, Ont., native said in a statement. 'I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent this city and this organization, and I'm ready to compete to bring a championship back to Toronto.' The signings come after Toronto fell to the Minnesota Frost in the PWHL semifinals for the second straight season. Kristen Campbell, the PWHL goalie of the year two seasons ago, had a strong end to her regular season but struggled in the playoffs against Minnesota, giving up seven goals in Game 3, and posting a 4.55 goals-against average over three games in the series. Head coach Troy Ryan opted to start backup Carly Jackson in the deciding Game 4, even though she had only played one PWHL game in her career, with regular backup Raygan Kirk out with injury. Both Jackson and Kirk are signed for next season. The 31-year-old Chuli, who grew up idolizing Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph, started in 10 of her 11 appearances for Montreal this past season, finishing with a 2-2-1-6 record and a 2.42 GAA while backing up Ann-Renée Desbiens. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The Sceptres' attack could use some help too, after they lost Sarah Nurse (expansion draft) and Hannah Miller (free-agent signing) to Vancouver. Dalton will be expected to help. The Toronto native had 18 points during her two-season tenure in Montreal, after 133 points in her college career at Yale University. 'I'm looking forward to coming home and playing in front of friends and family,' Dalton said in a statement. 'I've admired the competitiveness and style of play Toronto has demonstrated these past two seasons and hope to contribute positively to an already great group.' The two signings are just the first step in trying to fill out roster holes ahead of next season. Aside from Nurse and Miller, the Sceptres also lost Izzy Daniel (Vancouver), Julia Gosling (Seattle) and Megan Carter (Seattle) in the expansion draft. More new names will be added to the roster during next week's PWHL entry draft, with Toronto holding the third pick in the expanded eight-team league.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Penang Hill's living legacy to the fore in July festival
Three-day event one of few worldwide held in biosphere reserve THE Penang Hill Festival (PHF), an event that uplifts the soul thanks to its unique settings that beautifully intertwine the state's natural and cultural heritage, is back for its sixth edition. Held among the island's lush inland peaks, the festival slated for July 18 to 20 promises to be the most dynamic one yet – with three full days of exploration, education and entertainment lined up for visitors of all ages. There will be eight interactive workshops, 32 indoor and outdoor activities, seven exhibitions, 22 expert speakers and guides, eight performances and 17 nature-and-heritage discovery walks. Organiser Penang Hill Corporation's (PHC) aim is for the activities to spark deeper public appreciation for the hill's natural wonders, storied past and cultural richness. PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said roughly 25,000 local and international visitors were expected at this year's edition. 'We strive to elevate the festival experience each year through meaningful partnerships and interactive programmes that foster stronger connections to Penang Hill. 'Whether you are attending an insightful talk, joining a heritage walk or soaking in the vibrant festival atmosphere, there is something for all,' he said in a press conference at Komtar. Many do not realise that Penang Hill is not a single hill. Rather, it refers to a collection of granitic ranges that make up the island's hinterland. A significant portion of it was gazetted under the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve in 2021 by Unesco, which describes such sites as 'learning places for sustainable development'. This makes PHF one of the few festivals in the world to take place in a biosphere reserve. The reserve covers 12,481ha, with 7,285ha being on land. This corresponds to roughly 25% of the island's northeast district. The remaining 5,196ha are in marine waters. Collectively, the reserve is home to over 2,000 flora and more than 500 fauna species. 'More than just a festival, PHF will open the door to Penang Hill's extraordinary wonders. 'It is a place that is home to a century-old funicular railway, vibrant cultural activities and lush greenery teeming with biodiversity. 'Beyond the festivities, we also hope the programme will inspire more people to preserve and conserve not just the hill, but nature at large,' said Cheok. He urged festival visitors to embrace the event's eco-conscious spirit by choosing public transport and arriving early for scheduled activities. Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai reaffirmed the festival's importance by describing it as a living tribute to Penang Hill's enduring legacy. 'PHF celebrates the unique blend of nature, history and culture that defines the hills, while encouraging community participation and environmental responsibility. 'Each year, it strengthens our bond with the iconic site, connecting people through shared stories, learning experiences, and collective appreciation,' said Wong. Many of the festival's activities are free, but others require a token registration fee to cover costs. Cool highlights Notably, the festival's main event 'Music on the Hill – East Meets West' will have a new venue this year – the Bellevue Hotel. Starting 3.30pm on July 20, it will feature diverse rhythms from groups such as the Northern Jazz Unit of Penang Jazz Society, the Penang Dhol Blasters and Wak Long Music and Art Centre. Adding flair to proceedings will be the modern artistry of the Shuang Chinese orchestra and homegrown angklung ensemble Persona Ritma. Prior to that, there will be various insightful talks and panel discussions, each featuring a line-up of esteemed speakers and experts. This includes 'Guardians of Green: Conserving the Flora and Fungi of Penang Hill' at 4.30pm on July 18 at Edgecliff Gallery@Penang Hill. Participants can delve into the amazing yet often-overlooked species of fungi, orchids and herbs found on the hill, and learn about the ongoing efforts to protect them. 'Man and the Biosphere Reserve: Who Needs Whom More' − scheduled for 2.30pm on July 19 at David Brown's Restaurant and Tea Terrace −promises to be equally thought-provoking. This session will lay out in detail how the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve supports life and our profound responsibility in protecting and preserving its invaluable resources. Visitors may also be interested to check out the exhibition titled 'A Visual Journey of Penang Hill' open from 9am to 6pm on all three days at Gate House Bel Retiro. Its rich imagery highlights the hill's tapestry of flora and fauna, PHC's tireless efforts to conserve the hill, as well as the 100th anniversary celebrations of the funicular railway in 2023. Another interesting exhibition is 'Artistic Expression through Philately', also open from 9am to 6pm daily at Level 1 of Penang Hill Station (upper station). Using postage stamps, Penang-based philatelist Gary Wan Nyin Keat creates awe-inspiring artworks that also reveal motifs of the Penang Hill funicular, the Penang Bridge, Snake Temple and other local landmarks when viewed under UV light. Nature exploration Popular during the festival are the nature and heritage discovery treks conducted by experienced and knowledgeable guides. The 'Talk and Walk: Viaduct Trail' on July 18 starts at 8.30am and will take participants on a 7.5km trek through lush flora, with a break at Nature Green Farm to learn about eco-friendly farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics and organic wicking-bed agriculture. Next up is the 'Talk and Walk: Moniot Trail' at 8.30am on July 19. This spans 7km along the hill's oldest track, first created by the British in 1825 for horse-drawn carriages. The 'Talk and Walk: Crag Heritage Trail' at 8.30am on July 20 is only 3km and includes a visit to The Crag, a cherished hill landmark. Participants will gain insights into the 19th century structure's history – from its time as a sanitarium to a hotel, a boarding school and even a filming backdrop for the 1992 movie Indochine and the 2014 British TV series Indian Summers. On July 19 at 3pm, the Mushroom Exploration will show how fungi play vital roles in forest ecosystems. The Night Exploration later the same day at 7.30pm will allow one to experience the rainforest in a different light and perhaps even encounter some of its nocturnal inhabitants. For young children, there is a specially tailored Junior Rainforest Exploration at 9am on July 20. Hands-on activities such as seeding and tree planting are sure to fill them with joy. Each child will also receive a copy of Nature Trail Companion 2, a guidebook sponsored by PHC, to nurture their love for nature. The meeting point for all walks is in front of the Angsana Stage atop Penang Hill, near the main square (Dataran Bukit Bendera). Pre-registration is required for all sessions. Shutterbugs can sign up for the Bird Photography Workshop at 8am on July 19 at David Brown's Restaurant and Tea Terrace. Another session on Nature and Macro Photography takes place at 8am on July 20 at the same venue. Participants should bring their own tripods and filters. For the full list of programmes or to register, visit
Business Wire
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Qatar Islamic Insurance Group Q.P.S.C.
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of 'a-' (Excellent) of Qatar Islamic Insurance Group Q.P.S.C. (QIIG) (Qatar). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect QIIG's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. QIIG is a takaful insurer and operates through a hybrid model, whereby the shareholders' fund charges the policyholders' fund (PHF) a Wakala fee based on gross written contributions (GWC) and a Mudarabah fee based on investment income. QIIG's balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best assesses the company's risk-adjusted capitalisation on a combined basis, including its policyholders' and shareholders' funds, due to the strength of domestic regulation and requirement that the shareholders' fund would have to support the PHF were it to fall into deficit. Other positive balance sheet factors include the company's track record of internal capital generation through the retention of earnings and QIIG's accumulated surplus within the PHF. An offsetting factor to the assessment is QIIG's exposure to illiquid real estate assets and investments in associates, which accounted for 41.3% of its total investments as at year-end 2024. Despite this, the company maintains a robust level of liquidity, with its consolidated cash and deposits covering net technical provisions by 170.5% at year-end 2024, indicating that the company holds sufficient surplus capital to manage the higher investment risk appetite. AM Best assesses QIIG's operating performance as strong, evidenced by a five-year (2020-2024) weighted average return on equity of 16.6%. QIIG's combined family and general takaful portfolios have exhibited excellent underwriting performance over the medium term, with the five-year weighted average combined ratio of 73.1%. Underwriting performance of the general takaful book was affected adversely by underperformance of the medical segment in 2023 and 2024; however, the company has taken actions to remediate this portfolio. QIIG holds a niche position within its domestic insurance market, where it is a market-leading takaful player. The company has good diversification by line of business, offering a range of Sharia-compliant insurance products. In 2024, QIIG wrote GWC of QAR 551.2 million (USD 157.4 million). The business profile assessment is constrained by the company's geographical concentration and limited competitive position within the wider Qatari insurance market. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments.
Economic Times
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Economic Times
Cash-strapped Pakistan to send national team for FIH Nations Cup hockey
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The cash-strapped Pakistan Hockey Federation has managed to send its national team for the FIH Nations Cup being held in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia from June secretary Rana Mujahid said that the federation president, Mir Tariq Bugti had got grants from the government, sponsorships and even individual donations to ensure the senior team plays in all its international events in the calendar year."The PHF is going through a financial crunch but we are managing somehow because unless our players don't compete regularly they will never move forward," the Olympian is currently ranked 15th in the FIH rankings, an improvement from the 20th position in Green Shirts didn't qualify for the last World Cup and last feattured in the 2012 London said the current federation was trying its best with its limited resources to first and foremost ensure players had no complaints about financial were facilitated properly and given the best training and preparation before each event."I have been a player myself and I know when the federation takes good care of a player he focuses completely on his game," he a first, the PHF has allowed head coach Tahir Zaman to select the 20-member squad himself without the help of any Imad Butt has been retained as captain for the eight-nation competition, which also features hosts Malaysia, France, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa and Waheed was named as vice-captain for the squad includes goalkeepers Muneer-ur-Reh-man and Abdullah Ishtiaq, alongside field players Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Abdul Manan, Hamad Anjum, Arshad Liaquat, Mo-een Shakeel, Zakrya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Salman Razaq, Junaid Manzoor, Afraz Khan, Abd-ul Rehman and Ahmed and Rana Waleed will travel as reserves."The selected team is a balanced one and we are hopeful that this team will produce desired results," Tahir said."I picked the players based on their camp and recent performances in international events," he said the FIH Nations Cup was a major event for Pakistan as a win would mean a promotion to the FIH Pro League next year and also prepare the players to qualify for next year's World Cup from other events like the Asia Cup and qualifying tournament.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Cash-strapped Pakistan to send national team for FIH Nations Cup hockey
The cash-strapped Pakistan Hockey Federation has managed to send its national team for the FIH Nations Cup being held in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia from June 15-21. PHF secretary Rana Mujahid said that the federation president, Mir Tariq Bugti had got grants from the government, sponsorships and even individual donations to ensure the senior team plays in all its international events in the calendar year. "The PHF is going through a financial crunch but we are managing somehow because unless our players don't compete regularly they will never move forward," the Olympian said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This 'Invisible Workout' Is Quietly Replacing Diets in the UK dailybuzzreport Undo Pakistan is currently ranked 15th in the FIH rankings, an improvement from the 20th position in 2022. The Green Shirts didn't qualify for the last World Cup and last feattured in the 2012 London Olympics. Live Events Mujahid said the current federation was trying its best with its limited resources to first and foremost ensure players had no complaints about financial hardships. They were facilitated properly and given the best training and preparation before each event. "I have been a player myself and I know when the federation takes good care of a player he focuses completely on his game," he said. In a first, the PHF has allowed head coach Tahir Zaman to select the 20-member squad himself without the help of any selectors. Shakeel Imad Butt has been retained as captain for the eight-nation competition, which also features hosts Malaysia, France, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa and Wales. Rana Waheed was named as vice-captain for the campaign. The squad includes goalkeepers Muneer-ur-Reh-man and Abdullah Ishtiaq, alongside field players Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Abdul Manan, Hamad Anjum, Arshad Liaquat, Mo-een Shakeel, Zakrya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Salman Razaq, Junaid Manzoor, Afraz Khan, Abd-ul Rehman and Ahmed Nadeem. Mohib-ullah and Rana Waleed will travel as reserves. "The selected team is a balanced one and we are hopeful that this team will produce desired results," Tahir said. "I picked the players based on their camp and recent performances in international events," he added. He said the FIH Nations Cup was a major event for Pakistan as a win would mean a promotion to the FIH Pro League next year and also prepare the players to qualify for next year's World Cup from other events like the Asia Cup and qualifying tournament.
