Consumer confidence surging in Canada - CBC
Consumer confidence is surging across the country, according to the latest survey by the Conference Board of Canada.
The Ottawa-based think-tank said Friday that its May consumer confidence index shot up 5.8 points to 80.8, completely reversing a relatively poor performance in April.
Better yet, its says sentiment improved in virtually all regions of the country, although the gain was statistically insignificant in British Columbia.
Despite the better numbers in May, however, the index remains below where it was a year ago, it said.
The Conference Board survey was the second in as many days to show a brightening of the mood among Canadian consumers.
On Thursday, international business consultancy TNS said its overall consumer confidence index jumped more than three points to 98.8 in May from 95.4 in April after a fairly lacklustre performance in the first four months of the year.
Meanwhile, for a second month in a row, the Conference Board survey showed Quebec's regional index registering the strongest performance, following up last month's 2.4-point gain with a 7.3-point increase in May. Its current level of 75.3 is the highest for the province in a year.
Despite a gain of 7.2 points this month to 69.7, Ontario's index is still the lowest in the country, while the index in Atlantic Canada rose 5.4 points to 74.6.
The survey showed consumer confidence was the highest in the Prairies where the index stood at 109.1, up 3.8 points month over month.
Confidence was little changed in British Columbia this month, up just one point at 89.4.
This survey involved some 2,000 telephone interviews conducted between May 3 and May 14, with a claimed margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.
Respondents were asked for responses to four questions, including their views about their households' current and expected financial positions and the short-term employment outlook. They were also asked to assess whether now is a good or a bad time to make a major purchase such as a house, a car, or other big-ticket item.
Elton John cancels Vegas shows on doctors' orders - BBC News
Sir Elton John has pulled out of three performances of his current Las Vegas residency, after being taken to hospital with a respiratory infection.
The singer was admitted to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre on Wednesday, but released the same day.
Doctors have advised the 65-year-old star against working while he completes a course of antibiotics.
The remaining 11 concerts of his Million Dollar Piano residency at Caesars Palace take place in October.
"Elton developed a serious respiratory infection last weekend while performing at The Colosseum on Sunday, May 20," said a statement by his publicist, Fran Curtis.
"This week the condition worsened, even with medication and rest, resulting in Elton being hospitalised."
The statement added that the singer underwent "extensive tests" and was recommended to take "complete rest" for "approximately seven days... to cure his respiratory infection and prevent any damage".
Sir Elton added his own apologies: "All I can say to the fans is 'sorry I can't be with you'."
"I love performing the show and I will be thrilled when we return to the Colosseum in October to complete the 11 concerts."
Sir Elton was previously forced to cancel two concerts in February, after he came down with food poisoning.
Gibb dedication
The singer, whose hits include Your Song and Candle in the Wind, began his three-year headlining stint in Las Vegas in September last year.
Earlier this week, he dedicated his track Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me to Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb, who died at the weekend.
"The Bee Gees were part of my life when I was growing up; they were a huge influence on me as a songwriter," he told the audience. "Travel well Robin - you were amazing. God bless you."
The singer is expected to perform at The Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace on 4 June, before embarking on a tour of Europe in June and July.
He returns to the United States and Canada for a series of concerts in September, before completing the Las Vegas residency.
Hornets heading to Ireland during pre-season (From Watford Observer) - Watford Observer
Olympic Games creating knock-on problems for Watford's pre-season schedule
8:00am Friday 25th May 2012 in Sport By Anthony Matthews
Watford have revealed they will be travelling to Ireland for their pre-season training camp but the Olympics are continuing to cause problems with regard to arranging two more matches before the new Championship campaign gets underway on Saturday, August 18 - although one slot has now been filled.
Sean Dyche’s men will play one game across the Irish Sea, against Cork City on Tuesday, July 24 (7.30pm kick-off), having travelled out the day before and returning the following Saturday.
The rest of the pre-season schedule has been finalised, with the exception of matches on Tuesday, August 7 and Saturday, August 11.
The Hornets, who are not the only club affected, are looking to play opposition from the London region but it is proving difficult to confirm arrangements for those dates because of the increased demand on police resources due to the Olympic Games.
“The organisation of any football fixture in London and the surrounding areas is proving problematical for all affected clubs,” explained Watford’s football business director Ross Wilson of his club’s failure to so far nail down two final pre-season fixtures.
“We are pleased to have already secured the date for Lloyd Doyley’s testimonial match, and we’re expecting our pre-season schedule to be completed in full very soon.”
Subsequent to Wilson's comments though, the Hornets have now confirmed they will be travelling to Gillingham on August 7.
The Hornets begin their pre-season with the now traditional games at Boreham Wood and Wealdstone on Tuesday, July 17 (7.30pm) and Saturday, July 21 (3pm) respectively.
Following the trip to Ireland, they return to face Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on Tuesday, July 31 (7.30pm) – a game that could see Chairboys duo Joel Grant and Marvin McCoy line up against the club where they started their careers.
Wycombe boss Gary Waddock told the club’s official website said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to arrange a game with a side of Watford’s quality.
“It’s a good fixture in our pre-season programme and it will test the players’ fitness levels against a Championship team.”
The showpiece of pre-season follows on Saturday, August 4, Doyley’s testimonial match against Tottenham Hotspur at Vicarage Road.
Prior to the match against Harry Redknapp’s side at 3pm, there will be a legends game between past players from both clubs.
Only one development game has been confirmed so far, a short trip to St Albans City on Wednesday, August 1.
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Eurovision: I was misquoted, Spanish entrant insists - BBC News
Spain's Eurovision entrant has denied reports she was asked not to win by her country's public television channel.
Pastora Soler told the BBC she had been misquoted by a "very bad" journalist.
Her comments followed a widely circulated story that quoted her as saying Spain would struggle to host the event if she were to win this weekend.
Speaking on Friday, she insisted that "Spanish public television want to win and me too".
"We want to win this Eurovision," Soler told the BBC World Service. "If we win, Spain be very happy with us."
It is written in the contest rules that the public broadcaster of the nation that wins must host the following year.
"Spain have a lot of place to have the competition," the singer went on. "It's not a problem for us."
Her remarks followed an earlier interview she gave to ABC Punto Radio in which she said Spain's TVE channel would find it "really difficult" to stage the contest.
"If we were to win, it will be impossible because of the costs," she said, in an interview translated from her native tongue.
During the interview she joked that the broadcaster had asked her not to win, but immediately added that "of course" they had not actually done so.
FavouritePastora Soler will sing her ballad Quedate Conmigo (Stay With Me) at Saturday's final, to be held in the Azerbaijan capital of Baku.
Spain last won the competition in 1969, when it shared a four-way tie with the UK, the Netherlands and France.
Thursday saw 10 more countries named finalists in the second semi-final held ahead of Saturday's main event.
Swedish entrant Loreen, considered by some to be the favourite this year, was among the successful acts to go through.
Lithuania, Malta, Norway and Turkey were among the other nations to join the 26 finalists.
The evening saw eight countries eliminated from the competition, among them Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal and the Netherlands.
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