The Royal Mail has launched an intelligent stamp using a smartphone app, and says that it hopes this will encourage more people to send mail.

The stamp uses image recognition technology, which, when activated by an iPhone or an Android smartphone, will launch exclusive online content created by the Royal Mail.

Users have to download the Junaio app from either the iPhone or Android Apps store and select the Royal Mail channel to activate the service.

The first of these stamps will be issued as part of the Great British Railways set. Smartphone users can scan the stamp to watch a short film of a reading of the poem The Night Mail. The poem was commissioned by the Royal Mail 75 years ago.

“The whole idea is to put stamps in the public eye again,” said Philip Parker, spokesman for Royal Mail Stamps.

“We want to attract a modern audience as well as intrigue some of our existing customers who may also have a smartphone.”

[NORWAY DATA FLASH] Indicator For Actual Consensus Previous NOR Manuf Prod NSA Y/Y Jul-10 6.6% N/A 7.2% NOR Manuf Prod SA M/M Jul-10 0.1% -0.5% 3.3% 07:58 GMT – With no concrete decisions on new budget rules after yest's Ecofin summit and as the WSJ sparks more worries about the lack of EU stress test transparency, the [EMU PERIPHERY] is under fire again. 10Y yld gaps vs Bunds continue to widen with Portugal out 8bp to 342bp, Greece 3bp wider at 935bp after the PM reshuffled his cabinet to better deal with the debt crisis and ahead of the Nov 7 municipal elections. Turning to Italy, PM Berlusconi is seeking to remove rival Fini as Parl speaker, which could prompt an early election. The BTP/Bund gap is out 6bp to 149bp, while Spanish/Irish gaps follow, expanding 5bp to 179/351bp resp. Note, the latter has asked the EC to extend the Anglo deposit guarantee, while Irish Nationwide listed Eur 4bn notes under the govt's ELG scheme. The bank faces around Eur 4bn in redemptions this month, part of some Eur 25bn in total for all Irish lenders in Sep alone

ISTANBUL — Kevin Durant, Chauncey Billups and the rest of Team USA finally had the look of a champion Monday, powering into the world basketball quarterfinals with a 121-66 victory over Angola.

“Obviously we want to stay humble, but at the same time we have to know that we can do it,” forward Kevin Love said. “We know regardless of what people are saying that we still are the favorites and we should play and really act like it, too.”

With Billups scoring 16 of his 19 points and Durant all of his 17 in the first half, the Americans saved their most impressive performance in Istanbul for the elimination stage, overwhelming the Angolans from the start after a couple of lackluster performances to close the group stage.

“We don’t want to be a team that’s going to turn it on and off,” Durant said. “I think of course we’re playing with a little more sense of urgency when you know if you lose, you go home. Guys came out and responded from those last two games.”

The United States forced turnovers that led to easy baskets in transition, and when forced into the halfcourt, shot 18 of 38 from 3-point range, one off the team record for 3s in a world championship game.

Eric Gordon and Rudy Gay also scored 17 for the Americans, who on Thursday will face Russia, a 78-56 winner over New Zealand.

Joaquim Gomes, who played at Valparaiso, scored 21 for Angola.

The Americans lacked some focus against Iran and Tunisia in their previous

Advertisement

two games, knowing advancement was certain and not wanting to embarrass opponents or get any of their own players hurt.

But they expected to be sharper after a couple of days of practice, knowing they would press, substitute frequently and raise their overall level of play.

“This is what we all sacrificed our summers for,” Billups said of trying to win the Americans’ first world title since 1994. “Right now we’re on the right path.”

ALMOST 1,000 elite athletes from around world gathered in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park yesterday ahead of the 2010 duathlon world championships.

The annual event kicked off yesterday with a “parade of nations” and opening ceremony outside the Scottish Parliament.

The duathletes were decked out in the home country’s colours, as they paraded past the parliament and through Holyrood Park ahe

ADVERTISEMENT

ad of the first race at 2.30pm.

The event caused widespread traffic congestion around the area, however, with roads leading to the park closed off until Sunday morning.

Over the weekend, almost 1,000 competitors will each complete a duathlon circuit, involving a 10km run followed by a 40km cycle and then a 5km run, in the hope of being crowned world champion.

Edinburgh previously hosted the European duathlon championships in 2007, while the last world championships were held in North Carolina, in the United States.

The circuit consists of multiple laps around Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, close to the Scottish Parliament – said to be one of the most challenging ever used on the international circuit.

The event runs all weekend, where the athletes will compete for six world championship titles, 27 age group gold medals and a total prize fund of 62,600.

Catriona Morrison, former world and European duathlon champion, from Broxburn, West Lothian, hopes to grab the title once more, in front of a home crowd.

She said: “The chance to compete around Arthur’s Seat is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“It will be a really tough fight to see who’s going to be crowned 2010 world champion.”

She and her fellow Scotland and Great Britain participants were joined by athletes from across the globe, including Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand and the US.

Duathlon is a combination of two individual sports – running and cycling.

A typical duathlon consists of three stages.

It starts with a run, followed by a cycle section and finishing off with another run, all completed as a continuous activity.

There is a strong duathlon scene throughout the UK, including a British championships as well as Scottish and Welsh duathlon championships.

Investment in renewable energy and low carbon projects will help Scotland get out of the economic downturn, First Minister Alex Salmond has claimed.

He also said Scotland’s world-leading expertise and experience in financial services could help to fuel “green” growth during a speech in Aberdeen.

The global low carbon economy was worth 3 billion in 2007/08 and is forecast to grow to 4.3 trill

ADVERTISEMENT

ion by 2015. An estimated 60,000 green jobs could be created by 2020 in low carbon industries and businesses across Scotland.

Mr Salmond said: “Scotland has an outstanding reputation for financial innovation and significant opportunities lie ahead from harnessing investment from developing economies such as China.

“Creating a sustainable low carbon economy and tackling the global climate change challenge presents enormous opportunities.

“The financial industry can deliver real gains for their investors and our environment by funding the renewables revolution and financing low carbon developments.”

Later this month the First Minister will open the two-day Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference in Edinburgh.

This aims to bring together leaders from finance, energy and government with investors and developers of low carbon projects to examine ways of capitalising on Scotland’s natural energy resources and financial expertise to deliver a new green economy.

Mr Salmond added: “Global climate change is the most pressing issue of our generation.

“It is crucial that our business leaders understand both the challenges and opportunities climate change presents so that we can work together to ensure a positive future for our economy, environment and society.”

Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc. (TSX: DMM, “Dynasty” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has delivered its first shipment of gold dore, containing approximately 2,400 troy ounces (“ounces”) of fine gold, with an approximate value of US$3 million, produced from its Zaruma Gold Project in Ecuador to a refinery in Canada. Subsequent to the sale of this gold, the Company will have approximately US$9 million in cash in its treasury.

To date, the Company has processed approximately 5,300 ounces of gold at its plant in Zaruma, including the 2,400 ounces delivered to the refinery. Of the remaining 2,900 ounces, 1,400 ounces will be extracted in due course and 1,500 ounces will remain as work in progress contained in the carbon stripping section of the plant. In addition, the Company has processed in excess of 19,000 ounces of silver, which it expects to sell locally.

Robert Washer, President and CEO of Dynasty commented, “The first exportation and upcoming sale of gold is a significant milestone for the Company, particularly in a time when gold prices are near an all time high. The processing plant at Zaruma is fully operational, and with the tonnage of material being mined increasing each month we expect to be cash flow positive for the remainder of the year.”

Zaruma Mining Operations

The Company continues to develop its three declines, “Cabo de Hornos”, “Barbasco” and “Ayampamba”, with in excess of 250 employees working in shifts to advance the declines and develop the resource 24 hours a day. To date, the Company has developed over 3.5 kilometres of tunnels to vertical depths ranging from 100 to over 250 metres, depending on the decline.

Mining of the resource at the main decline, “Cabo de Hornos” has commenced. Recently the combination of the resource together with the other lower grade development material mined has resulted in the delivery of approximately 250 tonnes per day at an average head grade of 6.4 grams per tonne (“g/t”) gold to the mill. As the Company continues to develop this resource it is expected the tonnage of material mined will continue to increase.

The Company has now reached the resource at “Barbasco” and is on track to reach the resource at “Ayampamba” later in the third quarter. The Company expects to have sufficiently developed and commenced mining these resources to begin its delivery to the plant in the fourth quarter.

While the Company continues to see improvement with its overall mine development and operations activities, progress has been much slower than expected over the last six months. In addition to the Company having to address the previously reported mining start-up challenges, the Company’s inability to secure a timely exploitation contract with the Ecuadorian Government and the time it has taken for the transition to the regulations of the new Mining Law caused management to defer making certain capital investment decisions, which directly impacted mine development progress.

After positive meetings with the new Minister of Non-Renewable Natural Resources during the last quarter, the Company hired 30 additional local employees to work at the mines, purchased a significant amount of additional mining equipment, continued to train local workers for skilled positions and hired additional experienced Australian mine managers to facilitate increased future production and the overall efficiency of its mining operations. The Company currently expects that sometime within the first quarter of 2011, it will be mining and delivering to the Zaruma plant 800 tonnes of material per day, or the approximate annual equivalent of 300,000 tonnes of material.

Zaruma Processing Plant

The processing plant is fully commissioned with gold recovery averaging 90% to date. To maximize the recovery of silver, the Company has commenced the construction of a floatation system which is scheduled to be operational in the fourth quarter of this year.

Exploitation Contract

The Company continues to have constructive dialogue with Mr. Wilson Pastor, the Ecuadorian Minister of Non-Renewable Natural Resources, and his Ministry with respect to formulating an exploitation contract which will set out the specific terms for mining operations, including the royalty payable to the State on the sale of the metals. Throughout this dialogue, the Company has kept the Ministry apprised of the status of its operations and its future plans and the Ministry, in turn, has assigned a person to assist the Company and report back to the Ministry on the Company’s progress. The Company would like to thank the Ministries for their ongoing assistance and cooperation.

Rob Washer
President & Chief Executive Officer

About Dynasty Metals & Mining

Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc. is a Canadian based mining company involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Ecuador.

The Company has the in-production Zaruma Gold Project, the advanced-stage Jerusalem Project, and a highly prospective exploration project, the Dynasty Copper-Gold Belt, which includes the advanced-stage Dynasty Goldfield.

For further information please visit the Company’s website at http://www.dynastymining.com or please contact:

Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc.
Murray Oliver
Tel: (604) 687-0888
Email: info(at)dynastymining(dot)com    

Brisco Capital Partners Corp.
Gordon Aldcorn
Tel: (403) 262-9888
Email: Gordon(at)briscocapital(dot)com

This news release includes “forward-looking information”, as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Users of forward-looking information are cautioned that actual results may vary from forward-looking information contained herein. The forward-looking information includes, without limitation, the amount of money the Company anticipates that it will receive from the sale of gold delivered to the refinery; the Company’s plans to sell the silver it has processed; the Company’s expectations that it will be cash flow positive; the tonnage of material that the Company anticipates it will mine from the declines in the future; the timing for reaching the resource at the Ayampamba decline; the timing and extent of development and mining it will accomplish at its three declines; the timing for completion of the floatation system; and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. In certain cases, forward-looking information was developed using the material factors or assumptions stated herein. Such factors and assumptions include, amongst others, the effects of general economic conditions, the price of gold, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations and misjudgements in the course of preparing forward-looking information. In addition, there are also known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Known risk factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development; the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing; the Company’s limited operating history; uncertain mining legislation; the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations; political and economic instability and general civil unrest in Ecuador; potential defects in title to the Company’s properties; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; fluctuating prices of commodities; operating hazards and risks; competition; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated March 26, 2010 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward looking information, will prove to be accurate. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information except as required by law.

###

A TD Canada Trust branch in Toronto is shown. The bank’s profits were up 29 per cent in the third quarter. (CBC)

TD Bank says its profits grew 29 per cent in the third quarter to $1.18 billion, narrowly missing expectations.

The results were equivalent to $1.29 per diluted share for the quarter, and compare to a net income of $912 million in the same period a year ago.

TD reported that both lower loan losses and strong earnings in its domestic retail business pushed the quarter higher.

On an adjusted basis, earnings per share were $1.43, falling a penny short of analyst expectations, according to Thomson Reuters.

Revenue lifted to $4.74 billion, compared to $4.66 billion a year earlier.

Canadian retail banking earnings increased 24 per cent to $841 million.

“Our third-quarter results really tell the growth story of our retail businesses on both sides of the border,” said president and chief executive Ed Clark in a release.

“We also saw the best credit quality and lowest credit losses in seven quarters across all of our businesses.”

Provisions for credit losses dropped to $339 million versus $557 million in the comparable period of last year.

TD Bank has more than 74,000 employees across its more than 2,300 retail operations in both Canada and the United States.

The bank’s operations include retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products under TD Waterhouse, as well as an investment in TD Ameritrade.

© The Canadian Press, 2010

A UNIT of medics who volunteered to treat the wounded and dying in Afghanistan has been honoured for its “unselfish contribution” to the war effort.

The 60-strong medical team from 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers), was awarded campaign medals by the Countess of Wessex after a four-month tour of Afghanistan.

The team was based at Camp Bastion, the British military base near Lashkar G

ADVERTISEMENT

ah, the capital of Helmand, and treated both military and civilian casualties of all nationalities, including British, American and Afghan soldiers.

The majority of the unit, Scotland’s only Territorial Army field hospital, is made up of professional health workers, but others include a TV engineer, a funeral director and a medical secretary.

Commanding Officer Col David McArthur said it had been a challenging and demanding tour of duty. During the ceremony at Cameron Barracks in Inverness he told the unit: “The achievements were many, the failures thankfully few. It was a job well done in very testing circumstances.”

He said that it was physically and mentally exhausting work, but he was satisfied that they had done the best they could.

Col McArthur, who is chief executive of the Trefoil charity which helps children and young people with special needs, said some of the team were on their fourth or fifth tour and most would be willing to go back.

He later told The Scotsman the medal ceremony was a symbolic culmination of nearly two years of training and operational duty.

“You cannot fully prepare for the type of events we saw in Afghanistan. But as healthcare professionals we look at the task in hand and focus entirely on that. We are there to save lives, that is the bottom line, and we worry about the impact on us later.”

He said training and the support of colleagues mean that impact is not as great as it could be: “We prepare emotionally for the job and are supported emotionally by each other. That mutual support often gets you through. Everyone comes back changed, whether positively or negatively depends on the individual.”

Col McArthur said the field hospital had about 100 American clinician and 150 British medical staff and dealt with soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict.

From Scotland’s hospitals to a distant war zone – the soldiers’ stories:

Our training helps to focus the mind

Major Alan Millarvie, 35, and his wife of three years Major Nicola McCullough, 31, (below) both work at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and were working in the same field hospital in Afghanistan.

He was a dispensary pharmacist in outpatients’ prescriptions and now works as a surgical team pharmacist, while his wife is an A&E registrar.

Maj Millarvie said it was comforting to have his wife on site at the same time: “It was difficult as you’re both there at the same time and can’t spend any time together. Generally in the morning I would walk past the A&E and give her a wave, as both of us were pretty busy.”

Maj McCullough said on one occasion a bicycle bomb attack resulted in 18 casualties coming into the hospital in the space of about 15 minutes: “All of them were civilians and the vast majority were children. That was hard but most of them did very well.

“You could say that some of the soldiers we were looking after were children also, as most of them were 18 or 19.”

She said nothing could prepare them for the war environment but added: “You fall back on both your medical and military training. At the end of the day we are there to do a job and that focuses minds. When you come home you may think about things you have seen but you won’t be able to do the job if you can’t see past that.”

We help each other to cope with stress

CAPTAIN Venetia Price, 33, swapped the accident and emergency department at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for the war zone of Helmand.

She said she prepared for the experience with the help of Amputees in Action, a service that provides amputees to work with medical staff to train them in dealing with severe injuries.

“It just means the first time you see an amputation for real, you will have experienced something similar in training. It helps take the edge off things, but you still see some very distressing situations. However, it’s amazing how quickly you get used to something that has initially taken you aback.”

She said dealing with patients with particularly serious wounds, or with those who do not survive, can be very stressful for medics.

“We talk through things afterwards and make sure we did everything right. Even though it’s an awful situation, it’s incredibly helpful to talk things through and know that we did everything we could have done.”

We brought some back from brink

LT COL Alasdair Macmillan, 43, normally carries out surgery at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline. But for eight weeks this year he was at the British base in Helmand Province dealing with major war injuries. “We were dealing with people that you would not expect to live normally, but we have in some cases been able to bring them back from the brink and get them home.”

[IBERIAN ASSAULT NEXT?] Just when some thought the EMU periphery crisis was stabilising, albeit aided by severe austerity & ongoing ECB support, old wounds have resurfaced. As holiday-makers return from Greece noting empty shops, French unions have taken to the Parisian streets on pension reforms & amid talk that Belgium may split itself into two

[MANPOWER US HIRING POLL] Of 18,000 employers surveyed, the vast majority at 71% expect no change in Oct-Dec hiring plans. Another 15% plan to expand staff, while 11% look to cut payrolls and 3% as undecided. That resulted in a Net Employment Outlook index of +4% vs +10 last time. After seasonal adjustments, the Net Employment Outlook was +5%, down from +4 in Q3 but up from -2 from a year ago. The survey also showed that 11 out of 13 industries have a positive Outlook for Q4 this year, with sentiment best in mining and wholesale/retail trade. The Q4 outlook is negative in govt and construction. By major region, employment prospects were strongest in the Northeast and South and weakest in the West