Latest news with #JamesFraser
CTV News
2 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Community rallies to rebuild home for Orillia brothers after tragic March fire
Tom, Gary, and James Fraser are the trio who lost their house on John Street in a fire on March 18, 2025 while they were attending their sister-in-law's funeral. Pictures taken on July 29, 2025. (CTV News / Rob Cooper) After a fire destroyed their home, three brothers in Orillia found themselves living out of an SUV and cooking over a bonfire. Tom, Gary, and James Fraser are the trio who lost their house on John Street in a fire on March 18 while they were attending their sister-in-law's funeral. 'Next thing we know, somebody says, 'Your house is on fire,'' said Tom Fraser, one of the displaced residents. 'And we say, 'No, you have to be kidding.' So they showed us a picture of our house, and we got in the truck and beat it here.' Tom, Gary, and James Fraser Tom, Gary, and James Fraser are the trio who lost their house on John Street in a fire on March 18, 2025 while they were attending their sister-in-law's funeral. Pictures taken on July 29, 2025. (CTV News / Rob Cooper) The three siblings lost everything in the blaze. They lived in a vehicle on their driveway for months before the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) loaned them a trailer to live in, while the group and dozens of volunteers work to rebuild their home before winter arrives. 'We're completely gutting and rebuilding the interior of the house from fire damage,' said Dan Mills with Mennonite Disaster Service. 'There's going to be a new roof put on it, and there's going to be some brickwork done in places that need to be fixed.' It's a big job. The brothers say it's been a difficult time since losing their home, but they're thankful for the support from the community. 'Oh yeah, you couldn't imagine the help we've been getting,' said James Fraser, also of Orillia. 'And the feeling I've got from the people around here and the Mennonites… it means a lot to you? Well, yeah.' Tom, Gary, and James Fraser Tom, Gary, and James Fraser are the trio who lost their house on John Street in a fire on March 18, 2025 while they were attending their sister-in-law's funeral. Pictures taken on July 29, 2025. (CTV News / Rob Cooper) Every day, volunteers show up to help clean up and prepare the home for the brothers. A few tradespeople are being paid, but most are helping simply because they can. 'Part of it is compassion and knowing the help is needed,' said Mills. 'Without us, these guys really don't have a chance of getting their home back.' To help speed up the rebuild and reduce costs, the city has waived some fees and expedited the process for the three brothers. 'It's hard to put into words,' said Gary Fraser. 'It's… ah, very humbling would be a good word to use.' Work on the home began three weeks ago and is expected to be completed by October. The total cost of the renovation is about $150,000. Anyone wishing to volunteer is encouraged by the city to step forward.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Outlander's Final Season: First Footage Hints at Jamie's Fate (and It's Not Great) — Watch
James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser has cheated death more times than we can count, but still: A new teaser for Outlander's upcoming final season gives us serious pause. 'I've been reading Frank's book,' Jamie says in the trailer above, released in conjunction with the show's San Diego Comic-Con panel Friday. What does it say, a worried-looking Claire asks? 'War is coming to the back country,' he replies gravely, 'and that James Fraser dies in it.' More from TVLine Resident Alien Cancelled, Will End With Season 4 New NCIS: Tony & Ziva Trailer Teases Rekindled Romance... and a Wedding?! - Plus, 30+ New Photos Percy Jackson and the Olympians Reveals Season 2 Release Date and Trailer, Casting for Nico/Bianca Are there likely more than one James Frasers in America at the time? Probably! Has a historical document been wrong before in this series? Absolutely! Do either of those facts do anything to assuage our concern for Big Red as we head into the show's swan song? Nope, not a bit! The exchange comes near the end of a video highlighting the series' decade-plus run on Starz. We also get an approximate premiere date: early 2026. When series star Sam Heughan finished his final work on the season in March, he teased that 'It's going to be quite, quite an emotional one' and promised fans 'I know you're going to love it.' Outlander's Final Season: Everything We Know So Far View List Before Outlander is back, though, Starz will debut the drama's first spinoff: the prequel Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which follows the love stories of Jamie's and Claire's parents. That series premieres with two episodes on Friday, Aug. 8, at 9/8c. (Watch just-released sneak peeks here.) What thoughts are you having about 's first Season 8 footage? Hit the comments and tell us . Best of TVLine Summer TV Calendar: Your Guide to 85+ Season and Series Premieres Classic Christmas Movies Guide: Where to Watch It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Die Hard and Others What's New on Netflix in June
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE What parents REALLY think of the schools which are giving pupils an extra week off for 'cheaper holidays'
Parents have criticised plans to give pupils an extra week off school so they can go on cheaper holidays - saying it will be a 'burden' for those that work full time. Under the controversial new scheme, students will have the autumn half term holiday extended from one week to two. But school days will be lengthened slightly throughout the year to make up for the missed lesson time. Schools spearheading the revolution include North Walsham High School and Long Stratton High School, both run by the same trust in Norfolk. Critics previously attacked the 'ridiculous' changes, warning they are more about 'making life easy for teachers' and are 'dumbing down' education. Now parents at the two impacted schools have weighed in on the row - with some saying they will struggle to organise childcare during the additional time off. James Fraser, 43, who has two children, including a nine-year-old at primary school and a 13-year-old at North Walsham High School, criticised the plans. He said: 'I don't think it's well thought out because of the impact it will have on parents. It will have an impact on many people, including grandparents. 'My youngest one is at junior school and there's been no co-ordination between the schools. 'I'm in a position where, as a parent, I can be flexible, but it's not as if you can go to your boss and say, "Can I work an extra ten minutes in my day and get a week off?" 'This is going to cause too much disruption. It's really hard for some parents. Their time is so compressed and difficult they don't even have the time to fight it.' Meanwhile, Heidi Walker, 48, who owns a vape shop in Long Stratton called JJ Vapes, also warned that parents will struggle to take the time off. She said: 'I would not say I agree with it at all. It's a burden for people who work and have to get childcare.' One parent of two children at North Walsham High School, who didn't want to give her name, added: 'Both my children are at the same school. 'It's not very good for people who have children at different schools. It would be a nuisance.' On Thursday, North Walsham executive headteacher James Gosden said the changes to the school holidays would help parents avoid price hikes by airlines. He said they would also reduce staff absence by giving them a 'better break' during periods with high levels of sickness. Parents had supported the change, Mr Gosden said, with 78 per cent of the 157 families who responded to a consultation in favour. It came as a new survey also revealed that half of frazzled parents want summer holidays to be slashed from six to four weeks and half terms extended. Research by the charity Parentkind found many families think the summer break is too long, and would prefer time off to be spread more evenly throughout the year. Amy Thomas, 40, is a nail technician in Long Stratton. She said: 'I read about this. I know people who have children at Long Stratton High School. 'I personally think they would have been better off taking a week off the six-week holidays and making it shorter, instead of increasing the school day. 'It's quite a long day for children. They've got to spend longer at school now to claw it back.' Helen Moxon, 50, has a nephew at Long Stratton High School. She said: 'My nephew said they're changing the times for school. He didn't say much more. He's nearly 16, so he doesn't talk much. 'They [the holiday companies] will just adjust. 'I don't agree with the whole fining people for kids taking time out of school. If parents have a valid reason they should be able to do it. 'If you're sensible about it, what's the problem about taking them out? The teachers must agree to it now. 'I have friends who are teachers who do say they absolutely must be at school because they need to learn stuff.' One parent, who didn't want to give her name, said: 'I think it's a good idea. But will the holiday people put their prices up?' Julia McDonald, 62, said of the changing term dates: 'I think it's marvellous for people who have school-age children because it can only make holidays cheaper. 'When mine were children it was okay to take them out for a week. We would take them to places like Rome. We took them to The Colosseum. 'It was educational. But they [the schools] started to get very serious about it [parents taking children out of school during term time]. 'I was chair of governors at a primary school and when this [fining parents for taking children out of school] I was against it.' Desislava Hristova, 38, has a daughter at Long Stratton High School. Desislava said of her daughter thinks about the plans: 'She's very happy about it [the longer Autumn term holiday]. I think it's a good idea. 'It will make my life much easier. 'In October, it's better for us to travel and it will make it more affordable to visit family in Bulgaria and Turkey. It will until the holiday companies ratchet up their prices. 'There's a paradox. Kids are on school holidays and travel agencies and companies manipulate their prices and don't give people a choice.' Sam Reynolds, 49, is a mother of two from North Walsham, who has a daughter aged nine at a primary school there and a 12-year-old at the high school. She said: 'We got a letter saying they were going to trial it in October and see how it went and have a two-week half term, instead of a one week one. 'They decided to try it because of cheaper holidays for families and also because there's a lot of sickness when people go back to school. 'I suppose it's just germs everywhere. My girls get colds when they go back to school after the six-week summer holiday. 'It's quite difficult to explain to a nine-year-old why they only get a one-week holiday while their sister gets a two-week holiday.' She said: 'I don't think having longer holidays will affect them. They're at high school and if they want to learn they'll learn. You cannot dictate in high school. 'I'm quite old-fashioned. I don't take my children out of school for school holidays but some people do. 'I think they need to be in school for educational and social reasons. 'I think the fines are quite high. Apparently, the fines out-weight the savings you make on a holiday. 'The travel companies need to address the situation.' Anne-Marie Grinsted, 37, has a daughter in nursery but heard about the changes at North Walsham High School. She said: 'I think it's a good idea. I hope it's in place when my little girl is at school. I think the holiday companies will have changed things by then to charge extra.' But Chris McGovern, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, told the Mail: 'We have to ask what's more important – a passport to Majorca or a passport to [children's] futures?' Mr McGovern said decisions about school breaks should be based on children's education, rather than convenience to parents. He said: 'We need to be upping the academic demands on children. This is dumbing down.' He added: 'Children need to have shorter lessons, rather than longer lessons. They get tired during the day. 'They have to provide a minimum number of hours per year, so in theory they could just make days longer and longer and the number of days shorter and shorter. 'Education is not about making life easier for teachers – it's what's in the best interests for children. 'The workload for teachers has been reduced, for example school reports are now AI-generated. In some respects, they have never had it so good. 'It is still a hard job but it's a vocation as well. We shouldn't be changing the school year to fit in with the holiday plans of teachers.' One parent, who asked not to be named, previously complained: 'It's ridiculous. October isn't when most families are taking holidays. 'I was against this because I don't see how it's going to benefit my kids. 'I've also got to make arrangements for them on these days, while teachers get more time off.' Another said: 'Ten minutes a day won't make up for losing a whole week in school. 'And a week either side of the summer holidays would have been better than a week at Halloween.' There was further criticism online, with comments including: 'Are holidays more important than getting an education? 'And who can afford a two-week autumn holiday anyway except teachers?'
Arabian Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Global Trade Finance Gap Targeted by DP World–JPMorgan Deal
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai DP World Trade Finance and JPMorgan have struck an alliance designed to improve working capital availability in emerging economies, responding to an estimated global trade finance shortfall of US $2.5 trillion. The partnership combines DP World's logistics capabilities with JPMorgan's financial services to distribute risk on trade finance deals, ensuring underserved enterprises can access vital credit. The signature transaction under this collaboration financed a leading food company's procurement of cocoa from Côte d'Ivoire, unlocking more than US $70 million in annual sourcing. By investing working capital at scale, the deal bolstered local supply chains and stimulated financial flows in a region frequently sidelined by banks due to weak credit data. ADVERTISEMENT Raj Jit Singh Wallia, Board Member at DP World Trade Finance, emphasised the structure of the model: 'By leveraging risk‑sharing mechanisms and combining them with logistics in one ecosystem, we reduce the overall credit risk profile and enhance liquidity in emerging markets'. His comments highlight DP World's strategy to fuse its global infrastructure with financing support, catalysing smoother transactions across regions including Sub‑Saharan Africa and Central Asia. James Fraser, Global Head of Trade & Working Capital at JPMorgan, noted that the bank's participation allows the pair to 'offer innovative financing solutions that provide working capital to businesses while mitigating risk through DP World's expertise'. Fraser added the partnership seeks to expand structured trade finance offerings in key emerging markets, aligning with JPMorgan's wider corporate strategy of fostering inclusive global commerce. The global trade finance deficit disproportionately impacts small‑ and mid‑sized enterprises in developing markets. Traditional lenders often abstain from financing these firms due to limited credit histories. The DP World–JPMorgan model directly addresses this, using logistics data and institutional backing to underwrite financing where conventional metrics fall short. Experts say such initiatives are gaining traction. Trade finance innovators like fintech firms Wisers and Drip Capital have already used data analytics and invoice financing to support SMEs in India, Mexico and the United States. DP World's initiative mirrors this trend but at a larger scale by leveraging its global footprint alongside JPMorgan's capital. Industry analysts observe that although supply chain disruptions—triggered by geopolitical events and climate‑related risks—persist, access to credit remains a primary bottleneck for sustained trade growth. Finance‑logistics alliances offer one solution, but scalability and consistency depend on transparent data-sharing and regulatory cooperation in host countries. Regulators in major markets are taking note. Some central banks in Africa and Central Asia have pledged to promote digitised trade documentation and credit scoring tools, easing risk assessments for financiers. While DP World and JPMorgan refrain from naming future markets, signals suggest possible pilot expansions into Southeast Asia and Latin America. A senior trade economist noted that combining logistics visibility with credit issuance 'can de-risk deals that would otherwise be considered too small or opaque for global banks'. In such models, DP World's shipment tracking and trade flow datasets underpin underwriting, while JPMorgan's funds back the exposure. Critics argue that deeper structural obstacles remain: SMEs require improvements in digital infrastructure, regulatory certainty, and legal frameworks before enduring scaled lending becomes viable. Risk pooling alone may not overcome entrenched informality in supply chains. Nevertheless, proponents suggest that DP World's ecosystem model could serve as a blueprint for other logistics companies to co‑finance trade flows. As global trade recovers from pandemic‑related disruptions and realigns with new geopolitical realities, mechanisms enabling more equitable trade inclusion are gaining importance. With its pre‑existing port and inland logistics network, DP World offers JPMorgan market penetration and risk diversification, while the bank adds financial credibility.
Arabian Post
07-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Global Trade Finance Gets a Boost as DP World and JP Morgan Forge Strategic Alliance
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai DP World Trade Finance and JP Morgan have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing access to working capital in emerging markets. This collaboration seeks to address the estimated $2.5 trillion global trade finance gap that disproportionately affects small and medium-sized enterprises in developing economies. The alliance's inaugural transaction facilitated the procurement of cocoa from Ivory Coast by a leading global food company, unlocking over $70 million in annual procurement opportunities. This deal not only provided significant value to the Ivorian economy but also demonstrated the potential of combining logistics and financial services to mitigate credit risks in supply chains. ADVERTISEMENT Raj Jit Singh Wallia, Board Member at DP World Trade Finance, emphasized the importance of integrating logistics and finance to reduce credit risk profiles and enhance liquidity in emerging markets. He noted that this transaction is one of many anticipated through the partnership, especially as trade expands in regions like Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. James Fraser, Global Head of Trade & Working Capital at JP Morgan, highlighted the bank's commitment to supporting global trade through innovative financing solutions. He expressed enthusiasm about working together to broaden access to structured trade finance in pivotal markets via innovative financial frameworks. The partnership aims to leverage risk-sharing mechanisms and combine them with logistics expertise to reduce the overall credit risk profile, thereby enhancing liquidity in markets where traditional lenders are hesitant due to limited credit data. By co-managing trade finance transactions, DP World and JP Morgan intend to provide more inclusive trade participation opportunities for businesses in developing economies.
